The bill proposes an amendment to Chapter 42-7.2 of the General Laws, specifically adding a new section that mandates the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) in Rhode Island to provide coverage for dialysis treatment of end stage renal disease (ESRD) and kidney transplants. This coverage is intended for Rhode Island residents who do not qualify for full Medicaid due to their immigration status. The coverage would be provided under the administration of Emergency Medicaid and would include hemodialysis in outpatient hospital settings, freestanding dialysis centers, and peritoneal dialysis when clinically appropriate. Coverage would begin when an individual requires a fistula or indwelling venous catheter for expected hemodialysis, or at the point of catheter insertion for peritoneal dialysis, and would be subject to the patient’s continued eligibility for Emergency Medicaid.

The bill specifies that the coverage applies to individuals whose benefits are limited to treatment of an "emergency medical condition" due to their immigration status, including both undocumented individuals and qualified non-citizens who have not met the five-year residency requirement for federal benefits. The EOHHS is also granted the authority to promulgate rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this section and may delegate this authority to any or all of the state's health and human services departments and offices it oversees and manages. The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2024.