The proposed legislation, known as the "Equitable Access Primary Care Practices Act," aims to enhance access to primary care for all Rhode Islanders. The act allows licensed primary care practices to offer optional access fees for non-covered services, which are strictly voluntary and do not affect the delivery of medically necessary covered services. It emphasizes that all patients, regardless of their ability to pay or the tier they choose, must receive the same quality of care and access to services, ensuring that no patient is disadvantaged based on their financial situation.

The act defines key terms, including "access fee," "equitable access primary care practice," and "non-covered services." It authorizes primary care practices to offer voluntary access fees for non-covered services while requiring that these fees apply exclusively to non-covered services and cannot be billed to third-party payers. Patients are not required to pay any access fee to receive medically necessary covered services, access emergency care, or receive equal clinical attention.

Robust patient protections and transparency requirements are included, mandating that practices obtain signed informed consent from patients regarding the optional nature of access fees and the services they cover. The act prohibits health insurers from interfering with the offering of these voluntary fees, provided that all covered services are delivered equitably. Additionally, it requires compliance with federal Medicaid and Medicare rules, ensuring that non-covered amenity fees do not violate beneficiary protections.

The enforcement of these provisions will be overseen by the Department of Health and the Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner, with penalties for violations that threaten patient equity. The act will take effect upon passage.