The bill proposes significant reforms to Rhode Island's healthcare system by establishing the Rhode Island Comprehensive Health Insurance Program (RICHIP), a single-payer health insurance program designed to provide universal, comprehensive, and affordable care to all qualified residents. The program aims to replace the current multi-payer system with a more efficient single-payer model, funded by progressive taxes. The bill criticizes the current system's failure to provide universal coverage, noting that many Rhode Islanders remain uninsured or underinsured, and highlights the exacerbation of these issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also addresses systemic racism in health coverage and economic inefficiencies in the current system. The RICHIP program would be implemented once Medicaid standards of care are raised to Medicare levels.
The bill includes a series of definitions to clarify the scope of the program and outlines the responsibilities of the RICHIP director and the formation of a RICHIP board. It details coverage, eligibility, enrollment, and the integration with federal programs. The bill also sets guidelines for provider reimbursement, billing, and restrictions, and addresses the treatment of out-of-state residents and cross-border employees. It introduces provisions for funding the RICHIP trust fund, including progressive contributions based on income and unearned income. The implementation plan must be completed within twelve months of the bill's effective date, and the bill amends various sections of the General Laws to align with the new program, including changes to the Rhode Island Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association Act and the Insurance Conversions Act. The bill also increases the maximum accrual of paid sick and safe leave time and revises the definitions and provisions related to medical assistance.
Statutes affected: 8242: 27-34.3-7, 27-66-24, 28-57-5, 40-8.4-13, 42-12.3-14, 44-17-1, 44-51-3