Rhode Island § 27-68-2 - Pilot Primary Care Program for the Uninsured

§ 27-68-2. Pilot primary care program established.

To increase access to primary care for those state residents who do not have access to health insurance coverage or who are unable to afford health insurance coverage, the director of the state department of human services in collaboration with the director of the department of health shall develop a plan for a pilot primary care program for uninsured residents of the state. The pilot program may include enrollee premiums and co-insurance payments that are income-based with premiums and/or co-insurance subsidized by the state. The pilot program may also include catastrophic or reinsurance coverage provided under the auspices of the state. In designing the pilot program, the director may consider a variety of service delivery and financing models including capitation payments to private physicians, a buy-in program under RIte Care, and coverage arrangements purchased from qualified community health centers. In developing the pilot program, the director may seek available federal grant monies, including Medicaid, and private foundation grants. The director shall submit the plan for the pilot primary care program to the governor, the speaker of the house, the president of the senate, the majority leaders of the house and senate, and the chairpersons of the house and senate finance committees by January 15, 2005. The plan shall include eligibility criteria for participation in the pilot program, the scope of services to be offered, the geographic area and population to be served, and cost estimates to implement the program.