§ 40-8.4-17 - Pilot primary care program established. - Rhode Island Statutes

SECTION 40-8.4-17

   § 40-8.4-17  Pilot primary care programestablished. – (a) To increase primary care access for those state residents who do not haveaccess to health insurance coverage or who are unable to afford healthinsurance coverage, the director of the state department of human services, incollaboration with the director of the department of health, shall develop aplan for a pilot primary care program for uninsured residents of the state. Thepilot program may include enrollee premiums and co-insurance payments that areincome-based with premiums and/or co-insurance subsidized by the state. Thepilot program may also include catastrophic or reinsurance coverage providedunder the auspices of the state. In designing the pilot program, the directormay consider a variety of service delivery and financing models includingcapitation payments to private physicians, a buy-in program under RIte Care andcoverage arrangements purchased from qualified community health centers. Indeveloping the pilot program the director may seek available federal grantmonies, including Medicaid, and private foundation grants.

   (b) The director shall submit the plan for the pilot primarycare program to the governor, the speaker of the house, the president of thesenate, the majority leaders of the house and senate and the chairpersons ofthe house and senate finance committees by January 15, 2005. The plan shallinclude: eligibility criteria for participation in the pilot program, the scopeof services to be offered, the geographic area and population to be served, andcost estimates to implement the program.