Rhode Island Senate Bill S0690

Rhode Island 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/7/25
• Refer: 3/7/25

Caption

Requires health insurance policies to cover licensed certified lactation counselor services for childbearing families. It also prohibits requiring supervision or duplicate payments for services and mandates annual reporting.

Impact

Significantly, the bill prohibits insurers from requiring any supervision, signature, or referral from other healthcare providers as a condition of reimbursement for these services. This provision empowers licensed certified lactation counselors to operate independently within their scope of practice, thus facilitating easier access for families seeking lactation support. Furthermore, it mandates annual reporting of utilization and cost information related to these services, which could enhance transparency and accountability in healthcare financing.

Summary

Bill S0690, introduced in the Rhode Island General Assembly, focuses on enhancing support for childbearing families by requiring health insurance policies to cover services provided by licensed certified lactation counselors. This bill mandates that all health insurance contracts issued or renewed after January 1, 2026, must include coverage for lactation counseling services. This effort aims to create a more inclusive healthcare framework that acknowledges the importance of lactation support in early child development.

Contention

While the bill's proponents argue for its necessity in promoting health and well-being among mothers and infants, certain points of concern have been raised in legislative discussions. Critics may argue that expanding mandated coverage could strain insurance companies financially or complicate existing reimbursement processes. Additionally, there are apprehensions regarding potential overlaps in service provision when lactation counselors and other healthcare providers offer similar services, which might lead to issues of redundancy in healthcare funding.

Effectiveness

The success of S0690 will hinge on the cooperation of health insurers and the proper implementation of reporting requirements. If effectively enforced, it could set a precedent for future healthcare policies aimed at supporting maternal and infant health, potentially influencing legislation in other states. It provides a critical step toward ensuring comprehensive support for breastfeeding families and acknowledging the vital role of lactation counselors in the healthcare system.