The bill introduces "The Primary Care Preservation Act" as a new chapter in Title 5 of the General Laws, aimed at protecting the ability of physician practices in Rhode Island to charge reasonable administrative or operational fees directly to patients. It defines key terms such as "administrative or operational fee," which refers to a reasonable charge for non-clinical services necessary to support operations, "payor," meaning any insurer or entity responsible for payment of healthcare services, and "physician practice," defined as a medical practice owned or operated by licensed physicians providing outpatient care in Rhode Island.

The act prohibits payors from including clauses in contracts that restrict, penalize, or interfere with a physician practice's ability to charge, bill, or collect reasonable administrative or operational fees from patients. It also states that payors cannot impose conditions, penalties, or sanctions on physician practices for assessing such fees, provided that the fees are disclosed to patients in advance and are not billed to the payor. Furthermore, the act clarifies that payors are not required to reimburse physician practices or patients for these fees.

Additionally, the legislation ensures that physician practices are obligated to provide emergency or urgent care regardless of any fees charged and mandates reasonable notice and access to patient medical records in accordance with state and federal law. Any provision in a payor contract that violates this chapter will be deemed null and void as a matter of public policy. The act will take effect upon passage.