Rhode Island Senate Bill S0576

Rhode Island 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/7/23
• Refer: 3/7/23
• Report Pass: 5/25/23
• Engrossed: 6/1/23
• Refer: 6/2/23

Caption

Accident And Sickness Insurance Policies

Impact

Beginning January 1, 2024, all individual or group health insurance contracts issued in Rhode Island that offer medical coverage for emergency services will be required to include reimbursement provisions for treatment received at these alternative facilities. Specifically, transport and evaluation by EMS practitioners will be covered, ensuring that patients can access necessary health services without the constraints of traditional emergency department pathways. This change is set to potentially lessen the burden on emergency departments while improving patient outcomes through appropriate care options.

Summary

S0576 seeks to amend the existing laws related to accident and sickness insurance policies by ensuring that emergency medical services (EMS) provide coverage for transport to alternate facilities, such as urgent care or community health clinics. This bill specifically mandates that EMS agencies will have the ability to divert non-emergency calls away from emergency departments and direct patients to more appropriate care resources. The legislation aims to enhance the flexibility and responsiveness of emergency medical services in addressing patient needs effectively while also balancing the workloads of emergency rooms.

Contention

While the overarching goal of S0576 is to improve health service delivery, the bill has faced scrutiny regarding the efficacy and implementation of mobile integrated healthcare. Stakeholders debate whether sufficient infrastructure and trained EMS practitioners are in place to handle increased responsibilities and whether insurance companies will adequately reimburse for these extended services. Critics express concerns that the bill may inadvertently lead to variations in service quality across different EMS agencies, impacting patient care.