2025 -- S 0873
========
LC002565
========
S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
____________
J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $90,000,000 TO THE RHODE ISLAND EXECUTIVE
OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO SUPPORT PHYSICIAN
REIMBURSEMENT RATE INCREASES IN THE RHODE ISLAND MEDICAID PROGRAM
Introduced By: Senators Bissaillon, DiPalma, Tikoian, Lawson, Sosnowski, Murray,
Urso, Britto, DiMario, and Burke
Date Introduced: March 21, 2025
Referred To: Senate Finance
WHEREAS, Adequate reimbursement for physicians and advanced practice providers is 1
critical to ensuring access to high-quality healthcare services for all Rhode Islanders; and 2
WHEREAS, More than half of Rhode Island voters report facing at least one healthcare 3
access challenge in the past year; and 4
WHEREAS, More than one third of Rhode Island voters had difficulty scheduling an 5
appointment with a specialist in the past year; and 6
WHEREAS, Rhode Island faces significant challenges in recruiting and retaining 7
physicians and advanced practice providers including, but not limited to, primary care providers, 8
pediatricians, and nurse practitioners, due to uncompetitive reimbursement rates; and 9
WHEREAS, Investment in increased physician reimbursement rates will enhance access 10
to healthcare services, improve health outcomes, and reduce long-term healthcare costs by 11
preventing avoidable hospitalizations and emergency room visits; and 12
WHEREAS, A targeted appropriation of the State’s general revenue funds will support 13
Rhode Island’s healthcare infrastructure and workforce sustainability; now, therefore be it 14
RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, from the general revenue of the State of 15
Rhode Island for fiscal year 2025-2026, the sum of ninety million dollars ($90,000,000) to be 16
invested in increasing reimbursement rates for all physicians and advanced practice providers 17
including, but not limited to, primary care providers, pediatricians, nurse practitioners, and other 18
advanced practice providers; and the Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human 19
LC002565 - Page 2 of 3
Services shall administer the appropriation and oversee the disbursement of funds to ensure that 1
reimbursement rate adjustments are effectively implemented across Medicaid and other 2
applicable State-funded healthcare programs. 3
========
LC002565
========
LC002565 - Page 3 of 3
EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
MAKING AN APPROPRIAT ION OF $90,000,000 TO THE RHODE ISLAND EXECUTIVE
OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO SUPPORT PHYSICIAN
REIMBURSEMENT RATE INCREASES IN THE RHODE ISLAND MEDICAID PROGRAM
***
This resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of $90,000,000 to the 1
Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services to be invested in increasing 2
reimbursement rates for all physicians and advanced practice providers. 3
========
LC002565
========