2022 -- H 7926

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LC004941

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT

     Introduced By: Representatives McNamara, Kislak, and Corvese

     Date Introduced: March 07, 2022

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 42-12.3-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-12.3 entitled "Health

Care for Children and Pregnant Women" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     42-12.3-8. Enhanced services for children.

     (a) The department of human services shall develop a panel of enhanced services to be

available as appropriate to RIte Track and medical assistance recipients under the age of eighteen

(18) twenty-six (26), who are considered at risk, as defined by department of human services

regulations. These services shall include, but not be limited to: care coordination, home visitation,

nutrition counseling, parenting skills education. These services may be performed through a fee for

service, contractual arrangement, or capitated rate as determined by the department of human

services. The provision of enhanced services is subject to available appropriations; in the event that

appropriations are not adequate for the provision of these services, the department has the authority

to limit the amount, scope, and duration of these enhanced services, and to limit eligibility for

enhanced services to children under the age of eight (8). Nothing in this section shall prohibit the

department of human services from providing enhanced services to a medical assistance recipient,

within existing appropriations.

     (b) Except as provided in subsection (c) below, the department of human services shall also

provide pediatric palliative care services to eligible children under the age of nineteen (19) twenty-

six (26) years who have a terminal illness, provided that such services qualify for federal financial

participation. These services shall be designed to achieve an improved quality of life and to meet

the physical and emotional needs experienced by the patient during the course of the terminal illness

and death. The services offered shall be determined by the department and may include, but are not

limited to, consultations for pain and symptom management, case management and assessment,

social services, counseling, volunteer support services, and respite services. The services shall be

provided by licensed health care facilities that meet the criteria established by regulations

promulgated by the department. The department is further authorized to establish limits on the

services provided under this section.

     (c) The department shall be the payor of last resort with respect to services provided under

subsection (b) above. With respect to children under the age of nineteen (19) twenty-six (26) years

who are covered by an individual or family health insurance plan or program that provides payment

in whole or in part for the type of pediatric palliative health care services listed in subsection (b)

above, the department shall coordinate benefits with these primary payors, and provided further

that payments by the department shall be in accordance with the department's fee schedules.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT

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     This act would raise the maximum age of eligibility for pediatric palliative services from

eighteen (18) to twenty-six (26) and would raise the eligibility for enhanced services from age eight

(8) to age twenty-six (26).

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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