Rhode Island
Governor McKee Enacts Sweeping Health Care Reforms in Rhode Island – Newport Buzz
In a move to enhance health care accessibility and protect patient rights, Governor Dan McKee ceremonially signed a series of seven bills into law on Friday. The legislative package, aimed at improving health outcomes, expanding access to care, and fortifying patient protections across Rhode Island, marks a pivotal step in the state’s ongoing efforts to reform its health care system.
“This comprehensive legislative package speaks to the commitment Rhode Island is making to improve health outcomes, strengthen our health care workforce, and protect patients,” said Governor McKee at the event. “I thank all legislative sponsors for their dedication to making the lives of Rhode Islanders easier and healthier.”
The legislative package, lauded by lawmakers and health professionals alike, addresses a broad spectrum of issues from medical debt and mental health support to professional licensing and patient rights.
Senator Joshua Miller (D-Cranston, Providence), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health & Human Services, emphasized the urgency of the reforms. “Strengthening our health care system has never been more urgent, and action is essential to ensure that quality care is accessible and affordable for all Rhode Islanders,” Miller stated.
Among the newly signed bills is a measure prohibiting the reporting of medical debt to credit bureaus, a step aimed at shielding patients from financial harm while they navigate the complexities of health care expenses. Another critical component of the package includes Rhode Island’s participation in several interstate compacts, which will facilitate easier access to services such as mental health support, professional counseling, and occupational therapy.
Senator Pamela J. Lauria (D-Barrington, Bristol, East Providence), who played a key role in the legislative process, highlighted the pressing need for these changes. “Through the legislation being celebrated today, we are taking critical steps to increase provider availability and care quality, contain costs, and protect consumers,” she said.
The bills also address the health care workforce shortage, with provisions that streamline licensing processes for nurses and other health professionals. Additionally, a measure to end the practice of “white bagging,” where insurers restrict patients to using insurer-affiliated pharmacies, was also included in the package, giving patients greater freedom to choose where they fill their prescriptions.
“We know that when people are healthy, they have the potential to live happier and fuller lives,” said Richard Charest, Secretary of the Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services. “This bill package will ensure we bolster our health workforce, expand services, and, overall, make healthcare in Rhode Island more accessible to those who need it.”
The passage of these reforms underscores Rhode Island’s commitment to ensuring that all residents have access to high-quality, affordable health care, a priority that lawmakers vow to continue advancing in the years to come.
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Rhode Island
Rhode Island files lawsuit against 13 companies that worked on troubled Washington Bridge
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee announced Friday that the state has filed a lawsuit against 13 companies that provided design, construction and inspection services related to the troubled Washington Bridge.
The bridge was partially shut down over safety concerns in December. McKee said in March that the bridge would need to be demolished and replaced.
McKee’s comments at the time came after an independent review of the bridge — which carries Interstate 195 over the Seekonk River from Providence to East Providence and serves as a key gateway to Providence — found additional structural deficiencies requiring that it be replaced.
McKee said the lawsuit filed Friday seeks to hold accountable those companies responsible for the near-miss catastrophic closure of the bridge and to recover the significant resources required to rebuild the bridge and compensate the state.
In the lawsuit, the state argues that the companies failed to timely and adequately identify worsening structural issues that ultimately led to the sudden and unexpected closure of the bridge.
The lawsuit also alleged there were multiple failures over multiple years to bring problems with the bridge to the attention of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation.
“In the nearly nine months since the abrupt closure, our economy has borne an immense cost, and our state has and will continue to have to expend significant resources as a result,” state Attorney General Peter Neronha said in a written statement.
During the demolition and construction of the new bridge, the state will reroute six lanes of traffic — three in each direction — on the eastbound bridge structure.
The sudden westbound closure in mid-December initially wreaked havoc on traffic, turning a 40- to 45-minute drive into several hours, stranding commuters for hours and sending others veering off their normal path. Some schools closed and held classes remotely.
The bridge carries nearly 100,000 vehicles every day.
An airplane traveling from Chatham Municipal Airport on Aug. 10 crashed after landing at a Rhode Island airport, entrapping and injuring the Virginia pilot. No one else was in the plane.
The injured pilot had just bought the plane on Aug. 10 in Chatham, and left the Chatham airport in the plane after the sale, according to Chatham Airport Commission Chair Huntley Harrison. The plane was known generally to be a “high performance” aerobatic plane, Harrison said.
A investigation is underway into what happened when the blue single-engine Yakovlev Yak-55M crashed after landing at about 4:30 p.m. the same day at Quonset State Airport in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The plane flipped over after landing, according to the FAA.
“The crash wasn’t fatal so we are thankful for that,” said North Kingstown Police Captain John MacCoy.
The most recent owner of the plane lives in Brewster, according to FAA records.
FAA: Only the pilot was on board
Police responded to the airplane crash at about 4:45 p.m., according to MacCoy. Pilot John Kevin Pace, 38, of Bassett, Virginia, was piloting the airplane, according to a North Kingstown police report. The aircraft experienced a rough running engine, according to an FAA accident and incident notification notice.
The airplane experienced an engine issue during climb out and returned to Quonset State Airport, according to preliminary information from the National Transportation Safety Board on Aug. 12.
Pace, who is listed by the FAA as an airman, was the only person on board at the time of the crash, according to the FAA.
Police: pilot was trapped in airplane after crash
Police arrived at the crash to find a single pilot monoplane lying on its roof facing southwest, according to the Aug. 12 report by North Kingstown, Rhode Island Patrol Officer Liam Doyle.
“The pilot of the aircraft was entrapped,” Doyle said in the report.
An aircraft rescue and firefighting unit and witnesses attempted to get the pilot out of the airplane, according to the report. After the arrival of more help, Pace was removed from the airplane.
Pace had lacerations several places on his body but was conscious and alert, Doyle said in the report. There was blood loss from Pace’s injuries, and he was transported in stable condition by North Kingstown Fire Department rescuers to Rhode Island Hospital, according to the report.
Witness Kelly Shea told police she saw the crash from another aircraft she was taxiing on the ground, according to the police report. Shea didn’t observe any suspicious activity pertaining to the crash and remained on scene to be interviewed by an aeronautics inspector, the report stated.
Rachael Devaney writes about community and culture. Reach her at rdevaney@capecodonline.com. Follow her on Twitter: @RachaelDevaney.
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As local travel experts, we know what travelers are looking for when it comes to finding the perfect accommodations for their next trip. To compile our lists, we scour the internet to find properties with excellent ratings and reviews, desirable amenities, nearby attractions, and that something special that makes a destination worthy of traveling for.
We all need a change of scenery sometimes, but that doesn’t necessarily mean our schedules allow us to indulge in our wanderlust for very long. Fortunately, we’ve got so many unique Airbnbs that we never have to travel far to satisfy that need to get away, even if just for a night or two. Whether you want to float in a crystal-clear pool to cool off or prefer spending balmy evenings sitting on the front porch, this waterfront Airbnb in Rhode Island promises a picture-perfect getaway.
You’ll have access to several streaming services, including Netflix and Hulu.
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Would you stay at this waterfront Airbnb in Rhode Island? Or have you? Let us know in the comments! If you feel like dining out during your stay, dig into a scrumptious meal at Family Ties Restaurant, a family-friendly restaurant in Tiverton, Rhode Island.
Pack your hiking shoes, too, so if you feel like exploring outdoors, you can set off on one of the best hiking trails in Rhode Island.
With A Kid-Friendly Menu, This Incredible Restaurant In Rhode Island Is Perfect For Families
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