2014 -- S 2913

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LC005570

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO

REJECT ANY UNITED HEALTHCARE PROPOSAL THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE

PROVISIONS FOR MEDICAL SERVICES RENDERED THROUGH LANDMARK

MEDICAL CENTER

     Introduced By: Senators Picard, Cote, Ottiano, Lombardi, and Cool Rumsey

     Date Introduced: April 30, 2014

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     WHEREAS, Prime Healthcare Services purchased the Landmark Medical Center and the

Rehabilitation Hospital of Rhode Island in December of 2013; and

     WHEREAS, Currently, United Healthcare is negotiating a new contract with Prime

Healthcare and Landmark concerning payments for services incurred by those persons insured

under United; and

     WHEREAS, The Landmark Medical Center serves residents of northern Rhode Island

communities and in 2013, had approximately 21,000 visits from 8,100 United subscribers,

resulting in revenue of approximately $22 million for Landmark; and

     WHEREAS, Landmark has not had an increase in payments from United since 2010, and

is paid the lowest amount for medical services of any hospital in this state; and

     WHEREAS, The United Healthcare insurance company is also currently negotiating a

new contract with the Rhode Island Department of Health (DOH) for medical services to various

state employees. The current proposal, offered by United, would result in the elimination of

Landmark Medical Center from the provider's network and the loss of services from 52

physicians in the northern part of the state; and

     WHEREAS, The financial impact from the loss of United revenue to Landmark would be

catastrophic to both the Center and the community and the reduction in accessibility of healthcare

and the severance of long-standing patient-doctor relationships for local area residents is

unconscionable; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby respectfully requests the Department of Health to reject any United proposal that does not

include provisions for medical services rendered through Landmark Medical Center; and be it

further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Governor Lincoln Chafee and Michael Fine,

MD, Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health.

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LC005570

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