2017 -- S 0993

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LC002950

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN

SERVICES, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND THE OFFICE OF THE HEALTH

INSURANCE COMMISSIONER TO PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE

DEVELOPMENT OF A STATEWIDE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM PLAN

     Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, Goldin, Conley, Miller, and Coyne

     Date Introduced: June 27, 2017

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

     WHEREAS, In 2012, The Lewin Group was commissioned by the Rhode Island

Executive Office of Health and Human Services and the Department of Health to conduct a gap

analysis focused on assessing the current health care system's in-patient capacity, utilization,

distribution of services, and the resulting impact on costs; and

     WHEREAS, The Lewin report compared the results to the population's future needs for

the state which can be used to provide guidance on the ideal number, location, and type of

hospital beds; the model also aids in estimating the cost of excess capacity; and

     WHEREAS, As multiple hospitals in Rhode Island contemplate mergers, it is important

that the 2012 report be updated to ensure that the Certificate of Need (CON) process considers

current data on hospital capacity; and

     WHEREAS, The CON program exists to ensure that proposed new health care services

meet the needs of the population, are affordable, accessible, and are of high quality; and

     WHEREAS, The CON programs are aimed at restraining health care facility costs and

allowing for coordinated planning of new services and construction, as well as providing a

mechanism to help implement a statewide health plan. However, thus far, no state health plan has

been adopted in Rhode Island since 1986; and

     WHEREAS, A statewide health plan requires more extensive information on each service

to support system wide data and service integration by evaluating the impacts of each proposed

service, the population health outcome impacts of each proposed service, and access to care and

treatment equality; and

     WHEREAS, A priority of the Rhode Island Senate has been to focus on a framework that

will benefit the vision of Rhode Island by allowing for smarter spending in regards to health care

dollars, better-quality of care, and overall a healthier population; and now, therefore be it

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

hereby respectfully requests that the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, the

Department of Health, and the Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner develop the

methodology pursuant to §23-81-4 to inform a statewide health care system plan; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby respectfully requests

that the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, the Department of Health, and the

Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner provide recommendations pursuant to §23-81-4 for

the development of a statewide health care system plan; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby respectfully requests that the written

recommendations be submitted to the Senate President and to the Chairs of the Senate

Committees on Finance, and on Health and Human Services on or before January of 2018; 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 the Secretary of the Executive Office of Health

and Human Services, the Director of the Department of Health, and the Health Insurance

Commissioner.

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LC002950

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