Rhode Island House Bill H6047

Rhode Island 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/7/25
• Refer: 3/7/25

Caption

Mandates all health insurance contracts from January 1, 2026, to cover FDA-approved contraceptives, sterilization, contraception counseling, follow-up services, and a twelve-month supply for Medicaid recipients.

Impact

The enactment of H6047 is expected to significantly amend state health insurance laws by requiring insurers to cover a range of contraceptive methods devoid of any out-of-pocket costs for the policyholders. This includes removing deductibles, coinsurance, or copayments associated with these services. Moreover, if alternative therapeutic equivalents of prescribed contraceptives are unavailable or medically inadvisable, insurance policies must accommodate the necessary coverage without additional costs to the patients. Consequently, this could lead to improved healthcare outcomes by allowing easier access to contraceptives and related health services.

Summary

House Bill H6047 mandates that all health insurance contracts effective on or after January 1, 2026, must provide comprehensive coverage for all FDA-approved contraceptive drugs and devices, as well as voluntary sterilization procedures. This legislation ensures that policies will cover not only the contraceptives but also clinical services related to their use, which include consultations, examinations, device insertions, and follow-up services. By eliminating cost-sharing for these services, the bill aims to enhance access to reproductive healthcare and support women’s health decisions.

Contention

Despite the bill’s alignment with enhancing reproductive health services, it may face challenges from religious employers and organizations that opt-out of covering contraceptive methods on grounds of moral or religious beliefs. The bill contains provisions allowing such refusals, provided the employers inform prospective enrollees about the specific services they will not cover. This aspect could lead to debates concerning the balance between individual rights to reproductive healthcare and religious freedoms, which may become a point of contention during the discussion and implementation phases of the legislation.