13-R407

2013 -- H 6288

Enacted 07/16/13

 

 

J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL JOINT COMMISSION TO STUDY THE INTEGRATION OF PRIMARY AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

     

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Bennett, Shekarchi, Tomasso, Abney, and Blazejewski

     Date Introduced: June 26, 2013

 

 

     WHEREAS, It is the long-standing policy of the State of Rhode Island to take cognizance

of the interests of life and health among the peoples of the state, to make investigations into the

causes of diseases, the prevalence of epidemics and endemics among the people, the sources of

mortality, the effect of localities, employments, and all other conditions and circumstances on the

public health, do all in its power to ascertain the causes and the best means for the prevention and

control of diseases or conditions detrimental to the public health, and adopt proper and expedient

measures to prevent and control diseases and conditions detrimental to the public health in the

state; and

     WHEREAS, Population health outcomes in Rhode Island, as in the nation as a whole, are

persistently and significantly worse for factors such as infant mortality, prevalence of chronic

disease, serious mental illness, and life expectancy than in other developed countries with similar

socio-economic resources; and

     WHEREAS, The federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

(SAMHSA) and the Health Research and Services Administration (HRSA) established the Center

for Integrated Health Solutions (CIHS) to promote the development of integrated primary and

behavioral health services to better address the needs of individuals with mental health and

substance use conditions; and

     WHEREAS, Despite these inferior health outcomes, the global cost of medical and other

health care services in the State of Rhode Island, as in the nation as a whole, is among the highest

in the world and imposes significant burdens on business, government, families, and individuals;

and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island’s Health Homes Project is working to integrate physical and

mental health services, partly by requiring care providers to collaborate with community

organizations and in-the-market resources; and

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Chronic Care Sustainability Initiative (CSI-RI), is one of

the first multi-payer patient-centered medical home (PCMH) demonstration projects in the

country, with plans to expand the successful project; and

     WHEREAS, In Rhode Island, as in the nation as a whole, global medical and other health

care costs are projected to continue rising faster than the gross national product, than family

income, and than the rate of inflation, and unless effectively addressed, will soon become

unsustainable, threatening the economy, public budgets, and Rhode Islanders’ access to

affordable care; and

     WHEREAS, There is a large body of data and other research that demonstrate the

potential for improving the public health and population-based outcomes through improving the

delivery of and access to primary care that is community-based and patient-centered; and

     WHEREAS, Improving population-based health outcomes and integrating behavioral

health and primary care will result in significant savings by averting the costs incurred by treating

chronic diseases, premature death, and diminished productivity at work and school; now

therefore, be it

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

shall consist of  twenty-one (21) members: one of whom shall be a member of the Senate, to be

appointed by the Senate President, who shall serve as co-chairman; one of whom shall be a

member of the House, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House, who shall serve as co-

chairman; one of whom shall be the Director of the Department of Health or his/her designee; one

of whom shall be the Director of the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental

Disabilities, and Hospitals or his/her designee; one of whom shall be a representative of the

Rhode Island AFL-CIO;  one of whom shall be a representative of the UNAP; one of whom shall

be the President of the Hospital Association of Rhode Island or his/her designee; one of whom

shall be Family Physician who is a member of the Rhode Island Chronic Care Sustainability

Initiative Committee or his/her designee; one of whom shall be the President of the American

Academy of Pediatrics Rhode Island Chapter or his/her designee; one of whom shall be President

of the Rhode Island Academy of Physician Assistants or his/her designee; one of whom shall be

the Executive Director of the Rhode Island Medical Society or his/her designee; one of whom

shall be the President of the Rhode Island Psychological Association or his/her designee; one of

whom shall be the Executive Director of the Rhode Island State Nurses Association or his/her

designee; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the National Association of Social

Workers Rhode Island Chapter or his/her designee; one of whom shall be the President/CEO of

the Rhode Island Health Centers Association or his/her designee; one of whom shall be the

President/CEO of  Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island or his/her designee; one of whom

shall be the Associate Dean of Medicine for Brown University School of Public Health or his/her

designee; one of whom shall be President of United Healthcare of Rhode Island or his/her

designee; one of whom shall be the CEO of Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island or his/her

designee; one of whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island Council of Community Mental

Health Organizations or his/her designee; and one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the

Drug and Alcohol Treatment Association of Rhode Island or his/her designee.

     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to this commission, the

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

provided that the majority leader or minority leader of the political party which is entitled to the

appointment consents to the appointment of the member of the general public and the public

member is a resident of the State of Rhode Island.

     The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study of the current

status of primary care and behavioral health in Rhode Island; of the available research, data and

analyses of the impact of primary care and behavioral health service availability and delivery

system architecture on population outcomes; and of the advisability of creating a Primary Care

Trust or other mechanism to fund and otherwise support a comprehensive integrated primary care

and behavioral health system for all Rhode Islanders.  In studying this issue, the commission is

encouraged to:

     (1) Examine trends, current policies, and data pertaining to Rhode Island behavioral

health and primary care utilization trends;

     (2) Identify policy restrictions which currently prevent Rhode Island from integrating

primary care and behavioral health systems;

     (3) Identify and seek ways to remedy gaps in the system, specifically in the area of

linkages and connections among providers and agencies in delivering comprehensive,

community-based healthcare services;

     (4) Examine the role of multi payers within the market and potential innovative delivery

systems and payment reforms.

     (5) Examine potential funding and grant opportunities to advance the recommendations

of the commission.

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

the call of the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate. The commission shall have the

authority to organize and form subcommittees, when deemed appropriate by a majority of the

members.

     Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in the 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 Joint Committee on Legislative Services 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

Governor, the Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, and the General

Assembly no later than January 28, 2014, and said commission shall expire on June 13, 2016.

 

     

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LC02883

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