S2114 • 2026

AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- CONSENT TO MEDICAL AND SURGICAL CARE (Requires that an individual's caregiver be present when healthcare decisions are discussed with the hospice team. It would also prevent a denial of home hospice care because of age or income.)

Healthcare

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: LaMountain
Last action: 2026-04-28
Official status: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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 -- CONSENT TO MEDICAL AND SURGICAL CARE (Requires that an individual's caregiver be present when healthcare decisions are discussed with the hospice team. It would also prevent a denial of home hospice care because of age or income.)

AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- CONSENT TO MEDICAL AND SURGICAL CARE (Requires that an individual's caregiver be present when healthcare decisions are discussed with the hospice team.

What This Bill Does

AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- CONSENT TO MEDICAL AND SURGICAL CARE (Requires that an individual's caregiver be present when healthcare decisions are discussed with the hospice team.
It would also prevent a denial of home hospice care because of age or income.)

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.

Bill History

2026-04-28 Committee
Committee recommended measure be held for further study
2026-04-24 Rhode Island General Assembly
Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/28/2026)
2026-01-16 Rhode Island General Assembly
Introduced, referred to Senate Health and Human Services

Official Summary Text

AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- CONSENT TO MEDICAL AND SURGICAL CARE (Requires that an individual's caregiver be present when healthcare decisions are discussed with the hospice team. It would also prevent a denial of home hospice care because of age or income.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

S2114

2026 -- S 2114
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LC004008
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- CONSENT TO MEDICAL AND SURGICAL
CARE

Introduced By:
Senator Matthew L. LaMountain

Date Introduced:
January 16, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Health & Human Services
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Chapter 23-4.6 of the General Laws entitled "Consent to Medical and
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Surgical Care" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
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23-4.6-2. Consent to hospice care.

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(a) A patient, recommended for hospice services shall have the right to have a caregiver,
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as defined in § 23-17.27-1, present when hospice services are explained to the patient prior to the
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patient consenting to hospice services.
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(b) If practical, the patient's caregiver shall be present whenever any medical decisions are
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discussed by the hospice healthcare team with the patient.
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(c) Prior to a patient consenting to hospice services, the patient's caregiver shall be provided
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with all information regarding the patient's medication and treatment and how entering hospice is
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anticipated to effect the prescribed medication and treatment.
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(d) A hospice patient shall have access to visiting nurse care at home and not be excluded
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from those services because of income or age limitations.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC004008
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- CONSENT TO MEDICAL AND SURGICAL
CARE
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This act would require that an individual's caregiver be present when healthcare decisions
2
are discussed with the hospice team. It would also prevent a denial of home hospice care because
3
of age or income.
4
This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC004008
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