H8545 • 2026

AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- RHODE ISLAND PROGRAM TO ADDRESS ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE (Amends law to include all licensed physician assistants with licensed physicians and nurses required, each license renewal period, to complete a minimum of 1 hour of instruction on the diagnosis treatment, and care of patients with cognitive impairments.)

Healthcare

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Ackerman, McNamara, Kennedy, Newberry, Shallcross Smith, Donovan, Fellela, Serpa, Diaz, Ajello
Last action: 2026-06-09
Official status: Referred to Senate Health and Human Services
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- RHODE ISLAND PROGRAM TO ADDRESS ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE (Amends law to include all licensed physician assistants with licensed physicians and nurses required, each license renewal period, to complete a minimum of 1 hour of instruction on the diagnosis treatment, and care of patients with cognitive impairments.)

What This Bill Does

AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- RHODE ISLAND PROGRAM TO ADDRESS ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE (Amends law to include all licensed physician assistants with licensed physicians and nurses required, each license renewal period, to complete a minimum of 1 hour of instruction on the diagnosis treatment, and care of patients with cognitive impairments.)

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Amended text

Published version

Plain English: H8545aa 2026 -- H 8545 AS AMENDED ======== LC006434 ======== STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D.

H8545aa 2026 -- H 8545 AS AMENDED ======== LC006434 ======== STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D.
2026 ____________ A N A C T RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- RHODE ISLAND PROGRAM TO ADDRESS ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE Introduced By: Representatives Ackerman, McNamara, Kennedy, Newberry, Shallcross Date Introduced: May 13, 2026 Referred To: House Health & Human Services It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: 1 SECTION 1.
Section 23-1.7-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-1.7 entitled "Rhode 2 Island Program to Address Alzheimer’s Disease" is hereby amended to read as follows: 3 23-1.7-5.
Medical professional training.

Bill History

2026-06-09 House
House passed as amended (floor amendment)
2026-06-09 Rhode Island General Assembly
Referred to Senate Health and Human Services
2026-06-08 Committee
Committee recommends passage
2026-06-08 Rhode Island General Assembly
Placed on House Calendar (06/09/2026)
2026-06-05 Rhode Island General Assembly
Scheduled for consideration (06/08/2026)
2026-05-28 Committee
Committee recommended measure be held for further study
2026-05-22 Rhode Island General Assembly
Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (05/28/2026)
2026-05-13 Rhode Island General Assembly
Introduced, referred to House Health & Human Services

Official Summary Text

AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- RHODE ISLAND PROGRAM TO ADDRESS ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE (Amends law to include all licensed physician assistants with licensed physicians and nurses required, each license renewal period, to complete a minimum of 1 hour of instruction on the diagnosis treatment, and care of patients with cognitive impairments.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

H8545aa

2026 -- H 8545 AS AMENDED
========
LC006434
========

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- RHODE ISLAND PROGRAM TO ADDRESS
ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

Introduced By:
Representatives Ackerman, McNamara, Kennedy, Newberry, Shallcross

Date Introduced:
May 13, 2026

Referred To:
House Health & Human Services
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1
SECTION 1. Section 23-1.7-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-1.7 entitled "Rhode
2
Island Program to Address Alzheimer’s Disease" is hereby amended to read as follows:
3

23-1.7-5. Medical professional training.
4
(a) All physicians licensed pursuant to chapter 37 of title 5,
and
nurses licensed pursuant
5
to chapter 34 of title 5,
shall, no later than October 1, 2023, complete a one-time course of training
6
consisting of

and physician assistants licensed pursuant to chapter 54 of title 5, shall complete
a
7
minimum of one hour of instruction
every other renewal cycle
on the diagnosis, treatment, and care
8
of patients with cognitive impairments including, but not limited to, Alzheimer’s disease and
9
related disorders.
Individuals providing care solely in pediatrics, radiology, and pathology may be
10
exempt from the provisions of the required medical professional training through rules promulgated
11
by the department.
12
(b) The department of health shall promulgate rules to implement the training requirement
13
of subsection (a).
14
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
========
LC006434
========

EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- RHODE ISLAND PROGRAM TO ADDRESS
ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
***
1
This act would amend the current law to include all licensed physician assistants along
2
with licensed physicians and nurses who are required, each license renewal period, to complete a
3
minimum of one hour of instruction on the diagnosis, treatment, and care of patients with cognitive
4
impairments including, Alzheimer’s disease.
5
This act would take effect upon passage.
========
LC006434
========

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