February 14, 2011

Bills Introduced to the Rhode Island House (Corporations Committee), February 8-10

Carroll Andrew Morse

Significant Rewrites with Statewide Impact

H5275Requires that health insurance cover autism spectrum disorders.
H5276Charges the RI Health Commissioner with using his powers to promote "patient centered medical homes".
H5279Authorizes a corporate entity called a "low-profit limited liability company".
H5305Establishes various administrative procedures regarding health-care provider contracts and rate negotiations.

Targeted Changes with Statewide Impact

H5274Aggregate rate increases by any utility over a 24-month period cannot exceed 2.5%. (California-style energy crises, here we come!)
H5278Adds shared living programs to the list of programs covered by the "Long-Term Care Ombudsperson Act of 1995".
H5304Authorizes the state insurance commissioner to act as an ombudsman for ERISA claims. (What's an ERISA claim you ask? A bit of introductory background is available, here).
H5306"Pharmacies are prohibited from charging uninsured customers of prescription drugs a price of more than twenty percent (20%) beyond the average price for that prescription drug which has been negotiated with all medical insurance companies".