AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- THE PRIMARY CARE PRESERVATION ACT (Prohibits health insurance companies or other payors from including in physician participation agreements any provisions that restrict or prevent a physician from charging patients reasonable administrative or operational fees to support overhead.)

S2879

2026 -- S 2879
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LC004463
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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 BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- THE PRIMARY CARE
PRESERVATION ACT

Introduced By:
Senators DiPalma, Murray, Ciccone, Valverde, and Urso

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. Title 5 of the General Laws entitled "BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS"
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is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:
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CHAPTER 37.9
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THE PRIMARY CARE PRESERVATION ACT
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5-37.9-1. Short title.

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This chapter shall be known and may be cited as "The Primary Care Preservation Act."
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5-37.9-2. Definitions.

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As used in this chapter, the following words and terms shall have the meanings ascribed to
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them below unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
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(1) "Administrative or operational fee" means a reasonable charge assessed by a physician
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practice to patients for non-clinical services necessary to support operations including, but not
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limited to, reception, scheduling, care coordination, referral management, communication systems,
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record handling, and other administrative functions.
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(2) "Payor" means any insurer, health maintenance organization, or other entity responsible
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for payment of healthcare services under a health plan.
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(3) "Physician practice" means a medical practice owned or operated by one or more
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licensed physicians providing outpatient care in the State of Rhode Island.
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5-37.9-3. Payor contract restrictions prohibited.

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(a) No payor shall include in any contract, agreement, or participation document with a
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physician practice any clause or provision that prohibits, restricts, penalizes, or interferes with the
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ability of the practice to charge, bill, or collect a reasonable administrative or operational fee
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directly from patients.
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(b) No payor shall impose conditions, penalties, or sanctions on a physician practice for
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assessing such fees, provided that the fees are disclosed to patients in advance and are not billed to
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the payor.
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(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a payor to reimburse a physician
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practice or patient for such fees.
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5-37.9-4. Patient access and continuity of care.

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(a) Nothing in this chapter shall limit a physician practice’s obligation to provide
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emergency or urgent care regardless of payment of any administrative or operational fee.
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(b) Physician practices shall provide reasonable notice and access to patient medical
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records consistent with state and federal law.
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5-37.9-5. Enforcement.

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Any provision in a payor contract that violates this chapter shall be deemed null and void
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and unenforceable as a matter of public policy.
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5-37.9-6. Severability.

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If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section, or part of this chapter shall be adjudged by any
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court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, that judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate
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the remainder of the chapter but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph,
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section, or part directly involved in the controversy in which that judgment shall have been
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rendered.
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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 BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- THE PRIMARY CARE
PRESERVATION ACT
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This act would prohibit health insurance companies or other payors from including in their
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physician participation agreements any provisions that restrict or prevent a physician practice from
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charging patients reasonable administrative or operational fees to support practice overhead.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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