AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- PRIMARY CARE CONTRACTING GOOD FAITH ACT (Creates the Primary Care Contracting Good Faith Act.)

H8308

2026 -- H 8308
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LC006084
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO INSURANCE -- PRIMARY CARE CONTRACTING GOOD FAITH ACT

Introduced By:
Representatives Place, Hopkins, Cotter, Santucci, Shanley, Noret,
Stewart, and Knight

Date Introduced:
March 18, 2026

Referred To:
House Corporations
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Title 27 of the General Laws entitled "INSURANCE" is hereby amended by
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adding thereto the following chapter:
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CHAPTER 84
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PRIMARY CARE CONTRACTING GOOD FAITH ACT
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27-84-1. Short title.

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This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Primary Care Contracting Good Faith
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Act."
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27-84-2. Mandatory good-faith negotiations.

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(a) As used in this chapter, the term "payer" means and includes commercial insurers,
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managed care organizations, and Medicare advantage plans.
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(b) Every payer shall negotiate in good faith with any primary care physician practice at
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least once every twenty-four (24) months. Negotiations shall explicitly consider increases in
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operating costs, inflation, staff wages, malpractice premiums, and other overhead factors.
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27-84-3. Prohibition on discriminatory refusals.

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A payer shall not refuse to negotiate or enter/renew a contract solely based on the practice’s
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size, ownership structure, patient panel size, or Medicaid volume.
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27-84-4. Enforcement.

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The office of the health insurance commissioner (“OHIC”) shall maintain a negotiation
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request log and issue annual summary reports. Complaints shall be reviewed under existing OHIC

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authority.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect ninety (90) days after passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO INSURANCE -- PRIMARY CARE CONTRACTING GOOD FAITH ACT
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This act would enact the primary care contracting good faith act. It would require every
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commercial insurer, managed care organization, and Medicare advantage plan to negotiate in good
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faith with any primary care physician practice at least once every twenty-four (24) months.
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Negotiations would explicitly consider increases in operating costs, inflation, staff wages,
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malpractice premiums, and other overhead factors.
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This act would take effect ninety (90) days after passage.
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LC006084 - Page 3 of 3