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S3346
2026 -- S 3346
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LC006531
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N
CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO MAKE A COMPREHENSIVE
STUDY OF RHODE ISLAND'S HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE RELATED TO EDUCATING
AND RETAINING PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS
Introduced By:
Senators Lauria, Lawson, Kallman, Vargas, Valverde, DiMario, Murray,
and Urso
Date Introduced:
June 04, 2026
Referred To:
Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar
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WHEREAS, Nationally the demand for primary care providers continues to increase;
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however, nearly one-third of Americans do not have a primary care provider; and
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WHEREAS, Rhode Island residents are struggling to find primary care providers
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resulting in the use of emergency rooms and urgent care facilities to meet their medical needs;
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and
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WHEREAS, Rhode Island has a limited medical education infrastructure which
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contributes to low rates of provider retention; and
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WHEREAS, Workforce retention challenges among primary care physicians, nurse
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practitioners, and physician assistants in Rhode Island signal the importance of coordinated
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investments in payment, team-based infrastructure, and opportunities for advancement; and
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WHEREAS, Despite graduating one hundred and six primary care residents on average
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in Rhode Island each year, only fifteen graduates plan to stay in state; and
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WHEREAS, Rhode Island must look toward prioritizing primary care workforce
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retention and graduate medical education programs for the next generation of primary care
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residents; now, therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created
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consisting of fifteen (15) members: four (4) of whom shall be members of the Rhode Island
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Senate, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; one of whom shall be the Dean of the
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University of Rhode Island School of Medicine, or designee; one of whom shall be the Dean of
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the Brown University School of Medicine, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of the
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Nurse Practitioner Alliance of Rhode Island; or designee; one of whom shall be the President of
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the Rhode Island Academy of Physician Assistants, or designee; one of whom shall be President
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of the Rhode Island Pharmacist Association, or designee; one of whom shall be the Executive
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Director of the Rhode Island Medical Society; or designee; one of whom shall be the Executive
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Director of the Care Transformation Collaborative Rhode Island, or designee; one of whom shall
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be a representative from the community health centers, to be appointed by the President of the
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Senate; one of whom shall be a representative of community nonprofits, to be appointed by the
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President of the Senate; and two (2) of whom shall be representatives of persons with community
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expertise in primary care, to be appointed by the President of the Senate.
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The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study of Rhode
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Island’s healthcare workforce related to educating and retaining primary care providers,
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including, but not limited to:
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• Studying and developing recommendations for establishing and financing sufficient
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primary care graduate medical education resources in the state, leveraging the state’s well-
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established community health center network;
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• An annual report on Rhode Islanders’ access to a usual source of care, the number
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and distribution of primary care clinicians practicing in the state, the numbers entering and
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leaving practice in the state, and recommendations to ensure all Rhode Islanders report having
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access to a usual source of care; and
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• An annual report on the status of Rhode Island’s primary care institutional and
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clinical education resources and the programs supporting these students financially.
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Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall be
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appointed and shall meet at the call of the Senate President and organize and the Senate President
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shall appoint a chair.
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Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.
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The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.
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All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,
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documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or
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desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.
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The Commission may be allotted annual budget resources to complete these functions.
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The Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to provide
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suitable quarters for said commission; and be it further
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RESOLVED, That the commission shall develop and be ongoing with recommendations
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submitted annually to the President of the Senate.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N
CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO MAKE A COMPREHENSIVE
STUDY OF RHODE ISLAND'S HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE RELATED TO EDUCATING
AND RETAINING PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS
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This resolution would create a special legislative commission consisting of fifteen (15)
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members whose purpose it would be to study Rhode Island’s healthcare workforce related to
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educating and retaining primary care providers and who would report back annually to the
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President of the Senate.
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