Rhode Island 2010 Health Policy Priorities

Bill Title	Bill Number	Summary	Statu
An Act Relating To State Affairs And Government - Health Care For Children And Pregnant Women	S-2484	Would increase the qualifying family income levels for RIte track from 250% to 300% of the federal poverty level and add to those qualified to receive benefits under the program children who are lawful permanent residents of the US.	5/13/2010: Heard by Senate Finance Committee.
An Act Relating to Insurance -- Children's Health Insurance Benefits	H-7703	Would extend health insurance coverage to an unmarried child who is a resident of this state, under the age of twenty-five years, has no dependents, and is unemployed and financially dependent.	4/14/2010: Committee recommended measure be held for further study.
Act Relating To State Affairs And Government-Health Care For Children And Pregnant Women	H-7152	Would authorize the prescribing physicians to make the final determination if a brand name drug is medically necessary for patients in the RIte Care program.	2/2/2010: Committee recommended measure be held for further study.
An Act Relating To Insurance -- Establishing Minimum Physician Reimbursement Rates For Payments From Commercial Health Insurers	H- 7227	Would require commercial health insurers to pay physicians at least 125% of Medicare rates, if those physicians participate in medical assistance and RIte care, and provide at least 5% free care.	3/3/2010: Committee recommended measure be held for further study.
An Act Relating To Insurance -- Autism Spectrum Disorders	H-7260	Would require coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders.	4/14/2010: Committee recommended measure be held for further study.
An Act Relating To Insurance -- Insurance Coverage For Mental Illness And Substance Abuse	H-7361	Would require that reimbursement paid by a health care insurer for mental illness and substance abuse coverage be comparable to that paid for similar medical services.	3/23/2010: Committee recommended measure be held for further study.
An Act Relating To State Affairs And Government - Office Of Health And Human Services	H-7408	Would consolidate the five health & human services departments into one executive dept. to be known as the "Dept. of Health and Human Services."	2/9/2010: Introduced, referred to House Finance.
An Act Relating To Health And Safety -- Medical Examiners	H-7417	Would increase the responsibilities of the medical examiner's office to make recommendations to decrease the prevalence of preventable child deaths and to help establish community intervention strategies through the use of a child death review team.	4/13/2010: Referred to Senate Health and Human Services. 5/19/2010: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration.
An Act Relating To Taxation -- Sales And Use Taxes -- Liability And Computation	H-7368	Would impose a tax on the purchase of soft-drinks in the State.	5/18/2010: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration.