STATE HOUSE – Continuing the Senate’s efforts to stabilize and strengthen Rhode Island’s health care system, Sen. Melissa Murray, chairwoman of the Health & Human Services Committee, joined Senate President Valarie Lawson in unveiling a 17-bill package of legislation centered on supporting Rhode Islanders in crisis, protecting patients and providers, and strengthening the state’s health workforce.
“As chair of the Senate Health & Human Services Committee, I want to express my deep appreciation to everyone who is working so hard to take on Rhode Island’s health care challenges,” said Murray, a Democrat who represents District 24 in Woonsocket and North Smithfield. “I am extremely grateful that our leadership team continues to make this vital policy area a true priority.”
“While we know that solving the crisis cannot be accomplished through any single piece of legislation, or any one collection of bills, those being highlighted today build on our past progress and help address the most pressing needs of this moment,” Murray added. “These proposals will support Rhode Islanders in crisis, protect patients and providers, and strengthen the health workforce. Achieving our goals will be a long-haul effort, and our chamber remains truly committed to seeing it through.”
This marks the third year that senate leadership has brought forward a legislative package focused on health care accessibility and affordability. The bills being highlighted in 2026 include:
SUPPORTING RHODE ISLANDERS IN CRISIS
Codify 988, BH Link: This legislation, 2026-S 3058, would amend statute to codify the 988 and BH Link programs in state law, while additionally requiring the state to fully fund both programs in the event the current federal funding lapses. 988 currently runs as a 24/7 crisis helpline that was established under the federal National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2022. BH Link operates the 988 line as well as a walk-in center for those in crisis needing in-person support. Over 90 percent of 988 calls are resolved through phone support alone, drastically reducing the need for emergency department visits.
Codify Children’s Mobile Response and Stabilization Services in state law and expand coverage: This legislation, 2026-S 3066, would amend statute to codify the MRSS program in state law, making it a permanent part of Rhode Island’s mental health infrastructure. These mobile services provide trained behavioral health clinicians in the community, in response to behavioral health crisis calls. MRSS clinicians are better able than local emergency medical services to de-escalate crises and provide the crisis counseling and follow-up needed to keep youth out of emergency rooms, resulting in better patient outcomes for youth in crisis and reducing the strain on overburdened emergency departments. Between October 2024 and October 2025, providers fielded 849 MRSS cases, and 80 percent of cases were successfully stabilized in the community and connected to ongoing behavioral health care. The legislation would provide for the program’s coverage by Medicaid and appropriate $900,000 in Fiscal Year 2027, increasing to $1 million in Fiscal Year 2028, to provide coverage for services to the uninsured and underinsured.
Set commercial insurance reimbursement rate floor for MRSS: This legislation, 2026-S 3065, would build on a 2025 law that required commercial insurers to cover MRSS services. It would address the current low reimbursement rates for these services by adding a reimbursement rate floor for insurers to pay MRSS providers.
Create artificial intelligence safety guidelines related to suicidal ideation and mental health treatment: The first bill 2026-S 2195, would regulate AI companion models and chatbots to prohibit the operation of any companions unless the provider has a protocol for addressing possible suicidal ideation, self-harm, other physical harm, or financial harm. It also provides requirements for warning notifications, and for enforcement by the Attorney General. The second bill, 2026-S 2197, would prohibit the use of AI companion models to assist in providing supplementary support in therapy or psychotherapy services where the client’s therapeutic session is recorded or transcribed unless the patient or the patient’s parent, guardian or other legally authorized representative is informed and consents to the use. Individuals and corporations would be prohibited from providing therapy or psychotherapy services, including through the use of internet-based artificial intelligence, to anyone unless they are a licensed professional.
PROTECTING PATIENTS AND PROVIDERS
Establish new oversight of pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs: The first bill, 2026-S 3059, would amend statute to set accountability and transparency requirements for PBMs and establish new rules for their interactions with pharmacies. The second bill, 2026-S 3060, would establish a process for PBMs to obtain individual certificates of authority from the Department of Business Regulation in order to operate in Rhode Island. The third bill, 2026-S 2563, the Prescription Drug Savings and Transparency Act of 2026, would direct the auditor general to conduct a study of the performance and cost-effectiveness of the state’s current prescription drug management for the Medicaid Program, including the utilization of PBMs by Medicaid managed care organizations, with a report of findings and recommendations issued to the General Assembly no later than March 31, 2027.
Address prior authorization requirements for post-acute care and the Behaviorally Complex Care Program: The first bill 2026-S 3061, would require that beginning Jan. 1, 2027, insurers cover a minimum of seven days of post-acute care without a prior authorization requirement. The second proposal, 2026-S 3056, would direct the Executive Office of Health & Human Services to facilitate nursing homes and other long-term care facilities receiving an enhanced Medicaid per-diem rate for complex behavioral health patients.
Update statutes to ensure childhood and adult vaccination schedules are set by the RI Department of Health: This legislation 2026-S 2379, would update the law to emphasize that the vaccination schedule set by RIDOH can be followed as determined by the health director as necessary to protect public health, and would require all insurers and the state’s Medicaid program to cover all immunizations provided under RIDOH’s guidelines, without any cost sharing, starting on Jan. 1, 2027. This bill was heard in the Senate Committee on Health & Human Services on Feb. 26, 2026.
Allow medical professionals to express sympathy to patients and families without risk of legal reprisal: This legislation, 2026-S 2054, which was also passed by the Senate in 2024 and 2025, provides that any statement of apology or concern by a health care provider to a patient, a patient’s relative, or representative is inadmissible as evidence of liability or admission of fault by the health care provider in any legal or arbitration action against a health care provider or facility. Rhode Island would join 39 other states with similar provisions.
Create study commission on medical malpractice: This legislation, 2026-S 3063, would create a 13-member special legislative commission to study the impact of medical malpractice claims on health care providers and costs, with a report of its findings to be issued no later than Oct. 1, 2027
STRENGTHENING THE HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE
Invest in loan repayment and scholarship programs for primary care providers: The first bill, 2026-S 3062, would amend the current Health Professional Loan Repayment Program to create a loan repayment program for primary care providers. Eligible physicians, physician assistants or nurse practitioners could receive two years of loan repayment assistance. The second bill 2026 S-2101, would establish a scholarship program for students willing to commit to work as a primary care provider in Rhode Island. Eligible applicants would need to be studying and enrolled in a medical school, nursing school, or a physician assistant program.
Secure initial funding for the creation of a medical school at the University of Rhode Island: This proposal, 2026-S 3064, would commit initial resources needed for the creation of a medical school at the University of Rhode Island, as recommended earlier this year by a special legislative commission.
Establish a primary care commission to support workforce retention and explore graduate medical education, or GME, programs: This legislation, 2026-S 3057, seeks to fulfill another of the recommendations made in the final report of the special legislative commission charged with studying the creation of a medical school at the University of Rhode Island.
The 17 bills have various sponsors and are at various stages in the legislative process.
Where is the funding for these programs going to come from whether or not this a good program or not. RI cannot raise taxes anymore than they are now. Once again noble ideas with no funding and fiscal responsibility.