AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- PRIMARY CARE TRAINING SITES PROGRAM (Allows the office of health insurance commissioner (OHIC) as the state agency that has the authority to designate patient-centered medical home (PCMH) care to obtain maximal health outcomes.)

S2118

2026 -- S 2118
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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 -- PRIMARY CARE TRAINING SITES PROGRAM

Introduced By:
Senators Lauria, DiMario, Murray, Valverde, Kallman, Ujifusa, Pearson,
Zurier, Urso, and Euer

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. Sections 23-17.30-2, 23-17.30-4 and 23-17.30-5 of the General Laws in
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Chapter 23-17.30 entitled "Primary Care Training Sites Program" are hereby amended to read as
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follows:
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23-17.30-2. Definitions.
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As used in this chapter, the following words and phrases are construed as follows:
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(1) “Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care” or “AAAHC” means an
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organization that provides ambulatory health care accreditation.
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(1)
(2)
“Director” means the director of the department of health.
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(2)
(3)
“Grant” means a sum awarded pursuant to a contract executed pursuant to § 23-
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17.30-4.
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(3)
(4)
“National Committee for Quality Assurance” or “NCQA” means the nonprofit
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organization headquartered in the District of Columbia working to improve healthcare quality
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through the administration of evidence-based standards, measures, programs, and accreditation.
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(4)
(5)
“Office” means the office of primary care training established pursuant to the
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provisions of § 23-17.30-3.
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(6) “Office of health insurance commissioner” or “OHIC” means the state agency with the
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authority to designate patient-centered medical home (PCMH), in accordance with agencies
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regulations.
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(5)
(7)
“Patient-centered medical home” or “PCMH” means a model of health care that puts

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patients at the forefront of care by providing team-based healthcare delivery led by a healthcare
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provider to render comprehensive and continuous medical care to patients with a goal to obtain
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maximal health outcomes.
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(6)
(8)
“Primary care” means day-to-day health care provided by a healthcare professional.
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Typically, the healthcare professional acts as the first contact and principal point of continuing care
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for patients within a healthcare system, and coordinates other specialist care that the patient may
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require.
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(7)
(9)
“Primary care site” means a site, location, or medical practice that serves as the
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patient’s entry point into the healthcare system and acts as the continuing focal point for all required
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healthcare services.
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23-17.30-4. Contracts.
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In compliance with the provisions of § 42-11-11, the director shall have the authority to
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enter into contracts, subject to appropriation, for medical education to be conducted at primary care
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practice sites. Any contract entered into shall not exceed ninety thousand dollars ($90,000) per
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primary care site contract recipient, per calendar year and shall contain, at a minimum, the
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following terms, conditions, and provisions:
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(1) The primary care site shall serve as an enhanced interdisciplinary clinical training site;
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(2) The primary care site shall have achieved and shall maintain NCQA PCMH distinction
;
,
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or have achieved and maintained NCQA case management accreditation, or be recognized as a
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PCMH by the office of the health insurance commissioner, or other appropriate entity, such as the
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joint commission on AAAHC, as determined by the department of health.

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(3) The primary care site shall provide integrated behavioral health services;
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(4) The primary care site shall provide an agreed curriculum of training for physicians,
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nurse practitioners, and physician assistants; and
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(5) Training shall include
a minimum of

up to
five (5) hours didactic training and shall
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introduce the trainees to the concept of PCMH and how the principles of the model have been
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operationalized in the primary care delivery setting.
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23-17.30-5. Rules and regulations.
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The director
shall

may
promulgate rules and regulations to implement the provisions of
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this chapter.
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SECTION 2. 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 -- PRIMARY CARE TRAINING SITES PROGRAM
***
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This act would allow the office of health insurance commissioner (OHIC) as the state
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agency that has the authority to designate patient-centered medical home (PCMH) care to obtain
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maximal health outcomes. The primary care site would have achieved and maintain NCQA, PCMH
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distinction or approval of the joint commission on AAAHC, as determined by the department of
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health.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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