2022 -- H 7562 SUBSTITUTE A

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LC004865/SUB A/2

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY PROSPECTIVE

IMPROVEMENTS IN PATIENTS' ACCESSIBILITY TO MEDICAL CARE FROM

LICENSED NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIANS

     Introduced By: Representatives Shanley, Phillips, Price, Barros, Solomon, and Cassar

     Date Introduced: February 18, 2022

     Referred To: House Health & Human Services

     WHEREAS, Naturopathic medicine is used for a wide range of health issues and practice

in settings ranging from private clinics to integrative medical centers, urgent care clinics and

hospitals; and

     WHEREAS, Naturopathic physicians are trained as primary care providers who diagnose,

treat and manage patients with acute and chronic conditions; and

     WHEREAS, Naturopathic medicine utilizes diverse techniques which includes modern

and traditional, scientific and empirical methods, addressing disease and dysfunction at the level

of body, mind and spirit; and

     WHEREAS, Naturopathic physicians are often successful at treating chronic conditions

that don't respond to conventional medicine; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created

consisting of thirteen (13) members: five (5) of whom shall be members of the Rhode Island

House of Representatives, not more than four (4) from the same political party, to be appointed

by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the Rhode Island Health Insurance

Commissioner, or designee; one of whom shall be the Managing Director of Blue Cross Blue

Shield of Rhode Island, or designee; one of whom shall be the Executive Officer of United

Healthcare Community Plan of Rhode Island, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of

the Rhode Island Association of Naturopathic Physicians, or designee; one of whom shall be a

Naturopathic Physician practicing in Rhode Island, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House;

one of whom shall be the Chairperson of the Lifespan board of directors, or designee; one of

whom shall be the Director of the Department of Health (RIDOH), or designee; and one of whom

shall be the President and CEO of Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island, or designee.

     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a legislative study

commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly resolution, the appointing

authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu of a legislator.

     The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study and provide

recommendations for a prospective pathway to making patients' treatment accessibility with

naturopathic physicians more affordable through inclusion in HMO networks.

     Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at

the call of the Speaker of the House and organize and shall select a chairperson from among the

legislators.

     Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.

     The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

     All departments and agencies of the state, shall furnish such advice and information,

documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

     The Speaker of the House is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters

for said commission; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the

House of Representatives no later than April 20, 2023, and said commission shall expire on July

20, 2023.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY PROSPECTIVE

IMPROVEMENTS IN PATIENTS' ACCESSIBILITY TO MEDICAL CARE FROM

LICENSED NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIANS

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     This resolution would create a thirteen (13) member special legislative study commission

whose purpose it would be to make a comprehensive study of prospective improvements in

patients accessibility to medical care from licensed naturopathic physicians, and who would

report back to the House of Representatives no later than April 20, 2023, and whose life would

expire on July 20, 2023.

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