AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- HEALTH CARE FOR CHILDREN AND PREGNANT WOMEN (Requires EOHHS to provide self-measured blood pressure monitoring for eligible pregnant and postpartum individuals, covering home monitors, training, data transmission, and co-interventions, with state funds if federal aid is unavailable.)

S2871

2026 -- S 2871
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LC005595
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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 STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- HEALTH CARE FOR
CHILDREN AND PREGNANT WOMEN

Introduced By:
Senators Murray, Thompson, Valverde, Gu, Urso, DiMario, Mack, Euer,
Gallo, and Lauria

Date Introduced:
March 04, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Health & Human Services
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 42-12.3-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-12.3 entitled "Health
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Care for Children and Pregnant Women" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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42-12.3-3. Medical assistance expansion for pregnancy/RIte Start.
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(a) The secretary of the executive office of health and human services is authorized to
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amend its Title XIX state plan pursuant to Title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide Medicaid
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coverage and to amend its Title XXI state plan pursuant to Title XXI of the Social Security Act to
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provide medical assistance coverage through expanded family income disregards for pregnant
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persons whose family income levels are between one hundred eighty-five percent (185%) and two
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hundred fifty percent (250%) of the federal poverty level. The department is further authorized to
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promulgate any regulations necessary and in accord with Title XIX [42 U.S.C. § 1396 et seq.] and
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Title XXI [42 U.S.C. § 1397aa et seq.] of the Social Security Act necessary in order to implement
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said state plan amendment. The services provided shall be in accord with Title XIX [42 U.S.C. §
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1396 et seq.] and Title XXI [42 U.S.C. § 1397aa et seq.] of the Social Security Act.
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(b) The secretary of health and human services is authorized and directed to establish a
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payor of last resort program to cover prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care. The program shall
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cover the cost of maternity care for any person who lacks health insurance coverage for maternity
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care and who is not eligible for medical assistance under Title XIX [42 U.S.C. § 1396 et seq.] and
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Title XXI [42 U.S.C. § 1397aa et seq.] of the Social Security Act including, but not limited to, a

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noncitizen pregnant person lawfully admitted for permanent residence on or after August 22, 1996,
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without regard to the availability of federal financial participation, provided such pregnant person
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satisfies all other eligibility requirements. The secretary shall promulgate regulations to implement
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this program. Such regulations shall include specific eligibility criteria; the scope of services to be
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covered; procedures for administration and service delivery; referrals for non-covered services;
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outreach; and public education.
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(c) The secretary of health and human services may enter into cooperative agreements with
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the department of health and/or other state agencies to provide services to individuals eligible for
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services under subsections (a) and (b) above.
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(d) The following services shall be provided through the program:
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(1) Ante-partum and postpartum care;
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(2) Delivery;
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(3) Cesarean section;
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(4) Newborn hospital care;
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(5) Inpatient transportation from one hospital to another when authorized by a medical
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provider; and
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(6) Prescription medications and laboratory tests.
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(e) The secretary of health and human services shall provide enhanced services, as
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appropriate, to pregnant persons as defined in subsections (a) and (b), as well as to other pregnant
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persons eligible for medical assistance. These services shall include: care coordination; nutrition
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and social service counseling; high-risk obstetrical care; childbirth and parenting preparation
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programs; smoking cessation programs; outpatient counseling for drug-alcohol use; interpreter
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services; mental health services; and home visitation. The provision of enhanced services is subject
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to available appropriations. In the event that appropriations are not adequate for the provision of
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these services, the executive office has the authority to limit the amount, scope, and duration of
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these enhanced services.
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(f) The executive office of health and human services shall provide for extended family
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planning services for up to twenty-four (24) months postpartum. These services shall be available
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to persons who have been determined eligible for RIte Start or for medical assistance under Title
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XIX [42 U.S.C. § 1396 et seq.] or Title XXI [42 U.S.C. § 1397aa et seq.] of the Social Security
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Act.
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(g) Effective October 1, 2022, individuals eligible for RIte Start pursuant to this section or
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for medical assistance under Title XIX or Title XXI of the Social Security Act while pregnant
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(including during a period of retroactive eligibility), are eligible for full Medicaid benefits through

LC005595 - Page 2 of 4
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the last day of the month in which their twelve-month (12) postpartum period ends. This benefit
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will be provided to eligible Rhode Island residents without regard to the availability of federal
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financial participation. The executive office of health and human services is directed to ensure that
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federal financial participation is used to the maximum extent allowable to provide coverage
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pursuant to this section, and that state-only funds will be used only if federal financial participation
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is not available.
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(h) Any person eligible for services under subsections (a) and (b) of this section, or
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otherwise eligible for medical assistance under Title XIX [42 U.S.C. § 1396 et seq.] and Title XXI
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[42 U.S.C. § 1397aa et seq.] of the Social Security Act, shall also be entitled to services for any
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termination of pregnancy permitted under § 23-4.13-2; provided, however, that no federal funds
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shall be used to pay for such services, except as authorized under federal law.
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(i) The executive office of health and human services shall provide for self-measured blood
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pressure monitoring services for pregnant and postpartum persons as medically necessary. These
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services shall be available to persons who have been determined eligible for RIte Start or for
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medical assistance under Title XIX or Title XXI of the Social Security Act. Coverage for self-
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measured blood pressure monitoring shall include the provision of validated home blood pressure
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monitors, and reimbursement of health care provider and other staff time used for patient training,
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transmission of blood pressure data, interpretation of blood pressure readings and reporting, and
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the delivery of co-interventions, including educational materials or classes, behavioral change
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management, and medication management. This benefit will be provided to eligible Rhode Island
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residents without regard to the availability of federal financial participation. The executive office
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of health and human services is directed to ensure that federal financial participation is used to the
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maximum extent allowable to provide coverage pursuant to this section, and that state-only funds
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will be used only if federal financial participation is not available.
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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 STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- HEALTH CARE FOR
CHILDREN AND PREGNANT WOMEN
***
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This bill would require the executive office of health and human services to provide self-
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measured blood pressure monitoring for eligible pregnant and postpartum individuals, covering
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home monitors, training, data transmission, and co-interventions, with state funds if federal aid is
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unavailable.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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