Title 23
Health and Safety

Chapter 17.22
Healthy Rhode Island Reform Act of 2008

R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-17.22-3

§ 23-17.22-3. Healthy Rhode Island chronic care management program.

(a) The director shall create criteria for the healthy Rhode Island chronic care management program as provided for in this section.

(b) The director shall include a broad range of chronic conditions in the healthy Rhode Island chronic care management program.

(c) The healthy Rhode Island chronic care management program shall be designed to include:

(1) A method involving the health care professional in identifying eligible patients, including the use of a chronic care information system established pursuant to this section, an enrollment process which provides incentives and strategies for maximum patient participation, and a standard statewide health risk assessment for each individual;

(2) The process for coordinating care among health care professionals, including a process for ensuring that each patient has a designated primary care physician;

(3) The methods of increasing communications among health care professionals and patients, including patient education, self-management, and follow-up plans;

(4) The educational, wellness, and clinical management protocols and tools used by the care management organization, including management guideline materials for health care professionals to assist in patient-specific recommendations;

(5) Process and outcome measures to provide performance feedback for health care professionals and information on the quality of care, including patient satisfaction and health status outcomes;

(6) Payment methodologies to align reimbursements and create financial incentives and rewards for health care professionals to establish management systems for chronic conditions, to improve health outcomes, and to improve the quality of care, including case management fees, pay for performance, payment for technical support and data entry associated with patient registries, the cost of staff coordination within a medical practice, and any reduction in a health care professional’s productivity;

(7) Payment methodologies to any care management organization implementing a chronic care management program which would put the care management organization’s fee at risk if the management is not successful in reducing costs; and

(8) A requirement that the data on enrollees in any chronic care management program implemented pursuant to this section be shared, to the extent allowable under federal law, and in a format that does not provide any patient-identifiable information, with the director in order to inform the health care reform initiatives.

(d) No later than January 1, 2009 the secretary of health and human services shall ensure access to a healthy Rhode Island chronic care management program consistent with the program criteria developed by the director under this section for appropriate persons receiving any type of medical assistance benefits through the department of human services, the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals, the department of children, youth and families, or the department of elderly affairs with such chronic care management program to be available to all such persons by July 1, 2009. Any contract to provide medical assistance benefits may allow the entity to subcontract some chronic care management services to other entities if it is cost-effective, efficient, or in the best interests of the individuals enrolled in the program.

(e) No later than January 1, 2009 the director of administration shall ensure access to a healthy Rhode Island chronic care management program, consistent with program criteria developed by the director under this section, for appropriate state employees and their dependents who receive medical coverage through the health benefit plan for state employees.

(f) No later than January 1, 2010 the director, in collaboration with the health insurance commissioner, shall require statewide participation by all health insurers, third-party administrators, health care professionals, health care facilities and other professionals, in the healthy Rhode Island chronic care management plan, including common outcome measures, best practices and protocols, data reporting requirements, payment methodologies, and other standards.

(g) The director shall ensure that the healthy Rhode Island chronic care management program is modified over time to comply with the healthy Rhode Island strategic plan established under this chapter.

History of Section.
P.L. 2008, ch. 113, § 1; P.L. 2008, ch. 248, § 1.