AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- THE HEALTHCARE SERVICES FUNDING PLAN ACT (Includes both the MomsPRN and PediPRN teleconsultation lines in the healthcare services funding contributions payable by health insurers.)

H8268

2026 -- H 8268
========
LC006051
========

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- THE HEALTHCARE SERVICES
FUNDING PLAN ACT

Introduced By:
Representatives Shallcross Smith, Casimiro, Giraldo, Fellela, Tanzi,
Fogarty, Bennett, Ajello, Boylan, and Carson

Date Introduced:
March 11, 2026

Referred To:
House Finance
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1
SECTION 1. Section 42-7.4-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-7.4 entitled "The
2
Healthcare Services Funding Plan Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:
3

42-7.4-3. Imposition of healthcare services funding contribution.
4
(a) Each insurer is required to pay the healthcare services funding contribution for each
5
contribution enrollee of the insurer at the time the contribution is calculated and paid, at the rate set
6
forth in this section.
7
(1) Beginning January 1, 2016, the secretary shall set the healthcare services funding
8
contribution each fiscal year in an amount equal to: (i) The child immunization funding requirement
9
described in § 23-1-46; plus (ii) The adult immunization funding requirement described in § 23-1-
10
46; plus (iii) The children’s health services funding requirement described in § 42-12-29; and all
11
as divided by (iv) The number of contribution enrollees of all insurers.
12
(2) The contribution set forth herein shall be in addition to any other fees or assessments
13
upon the insurer allowable by law.
14
(b) The contribution shall be paid by the insurer; provided, however, a person providing
15
health benefits coverage on a self-insurance basis that uses the services of a third-party
16
administrator shall not be required to make a contribution for a contribution enrollee where the
17
contribution on that enrollee has been or will be made by the third-party administrator.
18
(c) Beginning calendar year 2026, in addition to the assessment collection pursuant to

1
subsection (a), there shall be an additional amount assessed pursuant to (i) and (ii), to support
2
primary care and other critical healthcare programs
, including both the MomsPRN and PediPRN
3
teleconsultation lines, as described in § 23-1-46.1,
totaling thirty million dollars ($30,000,000),
4
which shall be deposited as general revenues.
5
SECTION 2. Section 23-1-46.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-1 entitled "Department
6
of Health" is hereby amended to read as follows:
7

23-1-46.1.
Psychiatry resource network account
Psychiatry resource network
8
programs. [See Compiler’s Note.]
9
(a)
There is created within the general fund a restricted receipt account to be known as the
10
“PRN account.” All money in the account shall be utilized by the

The
department of health
shall
11
manage any and all funds available
to effectuate coverage for the following services: Existing
12
Rhode Island
lines including the
PediPRN and MomsPRN
teleconsultation
information lines
13
together with any additional information line, referral service, or hotline
which
is

are
available to
14
support pediatric, primary care, perinatal, and other service
providers
or residents
in the state
in
15
providing appropriate and timely mental healthcare and referrals to children, perinatal patients, and
16
mothers with mental health concerns.
, and which is funded pursuant to regulation adopted by the
17
director of the department of health. Amounts collected pursuant to § 42-7.4-3(a)(1)(iv) shall be
18
deposited in the “PRN account.” The funds shall be used solely for the purposes of the “PRN
19
account,” and no other.
20

(b) Each year’s psychiatry resource network funding requirement in § 42-7.4-3(a)(1)(iv)
21
shall be the amount:
22

(1) Projected by the department of health for the services in subsection (a) of this section;
23
plus
24

(2) A ten percent (10%) contingency for unexpected expenses; and after
25

(3) Deduction for any projected carryover of excess funds from prior assessments.
26

(c) The department of health shall submit to the general assembly an annual report on the
27
program and costs related to the program, on or before February 1 of each year. The department
28
shall make available to each insurer required to make a contribution pursuant to § 42-7.4-3, upon
29
its request, detailed information regarding the programs described in subsection (a) of this section
30
and the costs related to those programs.
31

(d)
(b)
The “PRN
account

program
” shall be exempt from the indirect costs recovery
32
provisions of § 35-4-27.
33
SECTION 3. Chapter 23-13 of the General Laws entitled "Maternal and Child Health
34
Services for Children with Special Health Care Needs" is hereby amended by adding thereto the

LC006051 - Page 2 of 4
1
following section:
2

23-13-27. Psychiatry resource network programs.

3

(a) Subject to appropriation, with sources including, but not limited to, § 42-7.4-3, the
4
department shall operate statewide the psychiatry resource network programs: PediPRN and
5
MomsPRN. These statewide psychiatry resource network programs expand Rhode Island's
6
behavioral health and substance use capacity by providing workforce development and psychiatric
7
consultation to primary and specialty care providers, including community-based health
8
professionals.
9

(b) The “PRN program” shall be exempt from the indirect costs recovery provisions of §
10
35-4-27.
11
SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon passage.
========
LC006051
========

LC006051 - Page 3 of 4
EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- THE HEALTHCARE SERVICES
FUNDING PLAN ACT
***
1
This act would include both the MomsPRN and PediPRN teleconsultation lines in the
2
healthcare services funding contributions payable by health insurers.
3
This act would take effect upon passage.
========
LC006051
========

LC006051 - Page 4 of 4