The resolution, SR 2257, introduced by Senators DiMario, DiPalma, Murray, Lauria, Zurier, Acosta, and Valverde on January 23, 2023, requests the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) in Rhode Island to adopt an electronic Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) system. This system is a federal requirement for evaluating individuals seeking admission to Medicaid-certified nursing facilities due to serious mental illness or intellectual/developmental disabilities. Currently, Rhode Island is one of the few states that has not transitioned from a paper-based system to an electronic platform, which has been adopted by most other states.

The resolution outlines several benefits of implementing an electronic PASRR system, including the protection of vulnerable individuals, promotion of least restrictive settings, support for community-based care, and ensuring appropriate services are provided. Additionally, it calls for the EOHHS to explore potential cost savings and advantages of collaborating with neighboring states through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the implementation of the electronic PASRR system. The resolution also encourages the investigation of grant and federal funding opportunities to support this initiative.

Furthermore, it sets a deadline for the establishment and implementation of the electronic PASRR system by January 1, 2027, and directs the Secretary of State to transmit a certified copy of the resolution to the Governor and the Secretary of EOHHS. The resolution has been referred to the Senate Health & Human Services Committee.