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H8490
2026 -- H 8490
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LC006365
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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 HEALTH AND SAFETY -- THE NOREEN DREXEL BIRTHING CENTER
FUND
Introduced By:
Representatives Carson, Cortvriend, Edwards, and McGaw
Date Introduced:
April 29, 2026
Referred To:
House Finance
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. The general assembly finds and declares that:
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(1) Access to high-quality maternal and infant health care services is essential to the health
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and well-being of families in Newport County and across Rhode Island.
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(2) The Newport Hospital birthing center provides critical, community-based maternity
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care, reducing the need for patients to travel off-island for services.
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(3) The preservation and long-term sustainability of birthing services require coordinated
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public, private, and philanthropic investment.
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(4) It is in the public interest to establish a dedicated fund to support the continued operation
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and improvement of the birthing center.
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(5) The birthing center is an owned entity of Lifespan Physician Group, Inc., operating as
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Brown University Health, but it is also a community resource and should be treated that way.
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Therefore, the purpose of this act is to establish the Noreen Drexel Birthing Center Fund
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to provide immediate and sustainable financial support for the operation of the birthing center.
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SECTION 2. Title 23 of the General Laws entitled "HEALTH AND SAFETY" is hereby
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amended by adding thereto the following chapter:
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CHAPTER 13.9
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THE NOREEN DREXEL BIRTHING CENTER FUND
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23-13.9-1. Title.
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This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Noreen Drexel Birthing Center Fund
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Act.”
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23-13.9-2. Establishment of the fund.
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(a) There is hereby established within the department of health a restricted receipt account
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to be known as the “Noreen Drexel Birthing Center Fund,” hereinafter referred to as the “fund.”
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(b) The fund shall be administered by the department of health in collaboration with the
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Newport Hospital Foundation.
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(c) Monies in the fund shall be used exclusively to support the continued operation,
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staffing, and enhancement of birthing services at Newport Hospital or any successor entity
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providing equivalent services in Newport County.
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23-13.9-3. Funding.
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(a) For fiscal year 2027, the total appropriation from the state to the fund shall be one
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million six hundred thirty-three thousand three hundred thirty-three dollars ($1,633,333), which
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appropriation shall be conditional upon the following.
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(1) A deposit of one million six hundred thirty-three thousand three hundred thirty-three
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dollars ($1,633,333), derived from Brown Health or its successor entity is provided to the fund;
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and
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(2) Deposit(s) totaling one million six hundred thirty-three thousand three hundred thirty-
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three dollars ($1,633,333), derived from philanthropic contributions including, but not limited to,
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donations from individuals, foundations, and community organizations is provided to the fund.
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(b) The Newport Hospital Foundation is authorized to deposit philanthropic contributions
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into the fund and under the authorization of the department of health may receive funding to
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effectuate the purpose of § 23-13.9-2(c).
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23-13.9-4. Conditions and accountability.
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(a) Brown Health or its operating entity shall be eligible for funds pursuant to this chapter
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provided they maintain:
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(1) Birthing services at Newport Hospital for the duration of the funding period;
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(2) Continuous, year-round operation of inpatient labor and delivery services at Newport
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Hospital, without seasonal, or unreasonable intermittent, or temporary suspension;
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(3) Twenty-four (24) hour, seven (7)-day-per-week availability of hospital-based obstetric
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services, including on-site or immediately available obstetric physicians;
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(4) Certified nurse staffing levels sufficient to support safe and timely deliveries including
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emergency obstetric care without diversion, routine transfer, or redirection of patients to other
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facilities due to staffing limitations;
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(5) No reduction in the scope of services offered at the birthing center including, but not
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limited to:
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(i) Elimination of inpatient labor and delivery;
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(ii) Conversion to outpatient-only, triage-only, or stabilization-only services;
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(iii) Routine diversion of laboring patients to other hospitals; or
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(iv) Restrictions that effectively require planned deliveries to occur off-island; and
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(6) No administrative, financial, or operational action that renders the birthing center
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incapable of serving the healthcare needs of women and infants in Newport County.
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(b) Brown Health or its operating entity, for eligibility for funding under this chapter shall:
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(1) Provide quarterly financial reports detailing revenues, expenses, and use of fund
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resources to the director of the department of health and the Newport Hospital Foundation Board;
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(2) Provide a final annual report on the use and impact of the fund to the director of the
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department of health, the Newport Hospital Foundation Board, the general assembly, and any
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philanthropic organizations that supported the fund;
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(3) Conduct an annual open meeting for transparency and oversight detailing the status of
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the birthing center;
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(4) Participate in any community councils created in collaboration with local city and town
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councils, state legislators, the Newport Hospital Foundation, and representatives of community-
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based organizations; and
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(5) Develop and submit, with community input, a sustainability plan for the birthing center
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within twelve (12) months of receipt of funds to build a state-of-the-art women’s and maternal
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healthcare facility.
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(c) The council established pursuant to subsection (b)(4) of this section shall:
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(1) Once established, meet at least quarterly to review the findings on outcomes, quality,
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safety and financial data of the birthing center, and plan for the future of the Noreen Drexel birthing
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center at Newport Hospital; and
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(2) Ensure decisions pertaining to the fund are broadly supported, collaborative, and
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positions the community both for input and to help with any required fundraising or advocacy to
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insure the sustainability of the birthing center.
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SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- THE NOREEN DREXEL BIRTHING CENTER
FUND
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This act would establish a fund within the department of health to support the operation
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and expansion of women’s, maternal, and infant health and birthing services at Newport Hospital.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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