The bill proposes an amendment to Chapter 42-7.2 of the General Laws, specifically adding a new section that mandates the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) in Rhode Island to provide coverage for dialysis treatment of end stage renal disease (ESRD) and kidney transplants for residents who do not qualify for full Medicaid due to their immigration status. This coverage is to be provided under the administration of Emergency Medicaid. The coverage includes hemodialysis in outpatient hospital settings and freestanding dialysis centers, as well as peritoneal dialysis when clinically appropriate. It also specifies that coverage shall begin when an individual requires a fistula or indwelling venous catheter for expected hemodialysis, or at the point of catheter insertion for peritoneal dialysis, and that ESRD treatment shall be authorized for a period of twelve months, subject to the patient’s continued eligibility for Emergency Medicaid.

The bill further clarifies that the coverage applies to all individuals who qualify for Medicaid but are limited to treatment of an "emergency medical condition" due to their immigration status, including both undocumented individuals and qualified non-citizens who have not met the five-year residency requirement for federal benefits. The EOHHS is also granted the authority to promulgate rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this section and may delegate this authority to other state health and human services departments and offices it oversees and manages. The act would take effect immediately upon passage.