| R 423 |
| 2019 -- S 1038 Enacted 06/28/2019 |
| S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N |
| CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE IMPACT OF INSURER PAYMENTS ON ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE |
| Introduced By: Senator Joshua Miller |
| Date Introduced: June 28, 2019 |
| WHEREAS, Rhode Islanders are often unable to access necessary medical, dental, and |
| mental health care in a timely fashion; and |
| WHEREAS, A lack of sufficient access may contribute to over-utilization of emergency |
| departments or to forcing Rhode Islanders to forgo health care; and |
| WHEREAS, An inability to access the appropriate care, from the appropriate provider in |
| an appropriate setting, is negatively impacting the overall health status of Rhode Islanders; and |
| WHEREAS, Many dental and mental health professionals have historically not |
| participated in contracts for services with the state's health insurers, which amplifies the difficulty |
| for Rhode Islanders to locate and receive appropriate mental health services; and |
| WHEREAS, The sufficiency of payments to providers for medical, dental, and mental |
| health care may be negatively impacting the ability of Rhode Islanders to access appropriate care |
| in appropriate settings; and |
| WHEREAS, These payment issues are not limited to commercial health insurers, but also |
| impact Rhode Island's Medicaid managed care as well; now, therefore be it |
| WHEREAS, The Senate Finance and Senate Health and Human Services Committees |
| understand this to be a matter of utmost importance to Rhode Island public health policy; now, |
| therefore be it" |
| RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby requests a study of the issue of health insurance |
| payments for medical, dental, and mental health services to determine if the current payments |
| impact the state's health insurer network adequacy and appropriate access to health care for |
| Rhode Islanders; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission to study the impact of insurer |
| payments on access to health care be and the same is hereby created to assist the work of the two |
| Senate Committees, and this commission shall consist of fifteen (15) members: three (3) of whom |
| shall be members of the Rhode Island Senate, not more than two (2) from the same political |
| party, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; and twelve (12) of whom shall be members |
| to be appointed by the President of the Senate, who may include, but need not be limited to, the |
| state's Health Insurance Commissioner, or designee; the Secretary of the Executive Office of |
| Health and Human Services, or designee; the President of the Rhode Island Medical Society, or |
| designee; the President of the Dental Association of Rhode Island, or designee; a community- |
| based psychiatrist; the President of the Rhode Island Community Health Center Association, or |
| designee; the President of the Substance Use and Mental Health Leadership Association, or |
| designee; at least two (2) representatives from commercial health insurers, including one insurer |
| that is a Rhode Island Medicaid Managed Care Organization; at least one representative from a |
| Rhode Island-based institution of higher education with appropriate expertise in public health; |
| and a representative from the Hospital Association of Rhode Island. |
| In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory |
| commission, 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 place |
| of a legislator, provided that the Senate President or the Minority Leader of the political party that |
| is entitled to the appointment consents to the appointment of the member of the general public. |
| The purpose of said commission shall be to conduct a comprehensive review of health |
| insurance payments for medical, dental, and mental health services to determine if the current |
| payments impact the state’s health insurer network adequacy and appropriate access to health |
| care for Rhode Islanders. |
| Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at |
| the call of the Chair of the commission, who shall be appointed by the President of the Senate. |
| Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment. |
| A quorum of the commission shall consist of a majority of its membership, and the |
| membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services. |
| The commission shall assemble no less than four (4) times, or more often at the call of |
| the Chair, upon written notice of each meeting stating the place, day, and time of the meeting, |
| along with the purpose and/or agenda of the meeting. |
| 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, recommendations, and |
| potential legislative proposals to the President of the Senate, the Chair of the Senate Finance |
| Committee, and the Chair of the Senate Health and Human Service Committee, on or before |
| January 31, 2020, and said commission shall expire on May 31, 2020. |
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| LC002941 |
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