Rhode Island § 23-13-21 - Maternal and Child Health Services for Children with Special Health Care Needs

§ 23-13-21. Comprehensive reproductive health services.

(a) The director of health is authorized and directed to establish a payor of last resort program to cover the cost of outpatient family planning counseling and comprehensive reproductive health services for men and women who are ineligible for Medicaid, lack health insurance coverage for these services, and whose family’s income is between one hundred percent (100%) and one hundred eighty-five percent (185%) of the federal poverty level. The director shall promulgate regulations to implement this program. These regulations shall include: specific eligibility criteria, scope and standards for services to be covered, mechanisms for administration, and service delivery.

(b) It is the intent of the general assembly that the following services be provided through this program:

(1) Patient education and counseling on options for timing and spacing pregnancy;

(2) Comprehensive medical services to prevent and control the spread of sexually transmitted diseases;

(3) Access to safe and effective methods of contraception.

(c) Excluded services will include but not be limited to elective abortion, elective hysterectomy, infertility related services, and other non-family planning procedures. No funds shall be expended to support school-based clinics dispensing contraceptive methods.