This bill amends several sections of the General Laws related to accident and sickness insurance policies, specifically addressing reimbursement rates for ambulance services. It establishes that individual and group health insurance contracts, as well as Medicaid reimbursement rates for ambulance services, issued for delivery or renewed in Rhode Island on or after January 1, 2026, must provide reimbursement rates equal to those provided by Medicare for the same medical services.

The bill also includes a definition of "ambulance," describing it as any publicly or privately owned vehicle designed, constructed, equipped, and operated for emergency medical treatment and/or transportation of persons who are sick or injured.

Additionally, the bill clarifies that certain types of insurance coverage, such as hospital confinement indemnity and long-term care, are exempt from these provisions. The act aims to enhance financial support for ambulance services by aligning reimbursement rates with Medicare standards. The effective date for these changes is January 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
5772: 27-18-69, 27-19-60, 27-20-55, 27-41-73