Rhode Island 2025 Regular Session

Rhode Island House Bill H5775 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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5	5	2025 -- H 5775
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7	7	LC001433
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9	9	S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
10	10	IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
11	11	JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
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13	13
14	14	A N A C T
15	15	RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
16	16	Introduced By: Representatives Caldwell, Potter, Morales, Slater, Kazarian, and Cruz
17	17	Date Introduced: February 26, 2025
18	18	Referred To: House Finance
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21	21	It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
22	22	SECTION 1. Chapter 40-8 of the General Laws entitled "Medical Assistance" is hereby 1
23	23	amended by adding thereto the following section: 2
24	24	40-8-33. Coverage for nutritional and other assistance. 3
25	25	(a) The executive office of health and human services (EOHHS) shall establish a one-year 4
26	26	pilot program for evidenced-based nutritional assistance and medically tailored meals, groceries 5
27	27	and produce prescriptions to include, but not be limited to, fruit and vegetable prescriptions or 6
28	28	vouchers provided by medical professionals for individuals with diet-related diseases or food 7
29	29	insecurity, clinical nutrition education, and other interventions for certain beneficiaries where there 8
30	30	is a clinical need. This program shall seek to receive expanded authority to provide these services 9
31	31	when medically appropriate. 10
32	32	(b) The services established in subsection (a) of this section shall be available to individuals 11
33	33	with three (3) or more chronic, diet-related health conditions, for a period of up to six (6) months. 12
34	34	There shall be two (2) randomized cohorts of participants, and each cohort shall have a minimum 13
35	35	of one hundred and forty-two (142) participants. The first cohort shall receive the services 14
36	36	established in subsection (a) of this section for six (6) months total, and at the end of the six (6) 15
37	37	months the first cohort shall end services and then the second cohort shall begin to receive the 16
38	38	services established in subsection (a) of this section for six (6) months total. 17
39	39	(c) Dependent on funding availability, the state may provide additional grocery support for 18
40	40	other members of the covered individual’s household. 19
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44	44	(d) The EOHHS shall ensure that federal financial participation is used to the maximum 1
45	45	extent allowable to provide coverage pursuant to this section, and that state-only funds shall be 2
46	46	used only if federal financial participation is not available. To the extent the EOHHS determines it 3
47	47	necessary to implement the provisions of this section, the EOHHS is authorized to pursue a 4
48	48	Medicaid § 1115 (42 U.S.C. § 1315) demonstration waiver request and renewal to seek a waiver of 5
49	49	the compliance provisions of 42 U.S.C. § 1396d(a) ("definitions") 6
50	50	(e) The EOHHS shall prepare a report and submit it to the general assembly three (3) 7
51	51	months after the conclusion of the pilot program. The report shall include health outcomes, cost-8
52	52	effectiveness, impacts on food insecurity, and other individual or household benefits, as well as a 9
53	53	fiscal analysis and a recommendation outlining the benefits and costs of expanding the pilot 10
54	54	program throughout the state. This section shall sunset and the pilot program shall expire July 1, 11
55	55	2027. 12
56	56	(f) The general assembly shall include the amount of one million five hundred thousand 13
57	57	dollars ($1,500,000) in general revenue funding in the fiscal year 2026 appropriation to the EOHHS 14
58	58	for the pilot program set forth in this section. Any unexpended funds at the end of the fiscal year 15
59	59	shall be reappropriated to the ensuing fiscal year and made available for the same program. 16
60	60	SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage and shall sunset and expire on July 1, 17
61	61	2027. 18
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68	68	EXPLANATION
69	69	BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
70	70	OF
71	71	A N A C T
72	72	RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
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74	74	This act would require the general assembly to include one million five hundred thousand 1
75	75	dollars ($1,500,000) in FY 26 appropriations to the EOHHS to establish a one-year pilot program 2
76	76	for evidenced-based nutritional assistance and medically tailored meals, groceries and produce for 3
77	77	people with diet-related diseases or food insecurity, clinical nutrition education, and other 4
78	78	interventions where there is a clinical need. The services would be available to individuals with 5
79	79	three (3) or more chronic, diet-related health conditions, for up to six (6) months. 6
80	80	This act would take effect upon passage and would sunset and expire on July 1, 2027. 7
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