Rhode Island
Rhode Island Senate Introduces Sweeping Health Care Reform Package – Newport Buzz
In a significant move Tuesday, leaders in the Rhode Island Senate introduced a comprehensive 25-bill legislative package designed to enhance health care access and affordability across the state.
Unveiled as the Rhode Island HEALTH Initiative (Holistic Enhancement and Access Legislation for Total Health), the package focuses on four key pillars: consumer protection, provider availability and care quality, cost containment, and health system financial stability.
The announcement came from Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio, Senate Majority Leader Ryan W. Pearson, Senate Health & Human Services Committee Chairman Joshua Miller, Senate Environment & Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Alana M. DiMario, a licensed mental health counselor, and Senate Health & Human Services Committee Secretary Pamela J. Lauria, a primary care nurse practitioner.
Addressing the critical state of the health care system, President Ruggerio emphasized the urgent need for accessible and affordable care for all Rhode Islanders. He commended the collaborative efforts of the Senate in crafting this legislative package and acknowledged the challenges faced by community hospitals, including Fatima in his district.
Majority Leader Pearson highlighted the importance of taking a holistic approach to address the interconnected factors affecting the health care system. He expressed gratitude for the knowledgeable and dedicated Senate membership committed to addressing the challenges faced by the state.
Consumer Protection Measures
Chairwoman DiMario, drawing on her experience as a licensed mental health counselor, stressed the significance of consumer protection in the initiative. The consumer protection measures include:
- Hospital determination of Medicare & Medicaid eligibility for uninsured patients
- State purchase of medical debt through ARPA funding
- Prohibition on medical debt reporting to credit bureaus
- Medical debt interest rate cap
- Prohibition on medical debt attachments
- Surprise billing protections for ambulance services
Provider Availability & Care Quality Improvements
Senator Lauria, a primary care nurse practitioner, addressed the shortage of health care providers as a pressing concern. The measures to enhance provider availability and care quality include:
- Enhanced Curriculum & Clinical Training
- Primary Care Scholarship Program
- Medicaid reimbursement for mental health intern work
- Uniform Telehealth Act
- Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact
- Counseling Compact
- Audiology Compact
- Physician Assistant Compact
- Occupational Therapy Compact
- NCLEX pending exemption
- Physical therapy licensing
Cost Containment Strategies
Committee Chairman Miller highlighted the complexity of health care policy and the importance of cost containment. The cost containment measures include:
- Creation of a drug affordability commission
- Pharma Coupons
- Separate NPI for off-site procedures
- Price transparency
Health System Financial Stability
Leader Pearson emphasized the need for overall financial stability in the health care system. The measures to ensure financial stability include:
- OHIC dual mandate
- Dental medical loss ratio
- Adding primary care to rate review
- Low-income drug program
The legislative package has garnered support from various stakeholders, including Debra Hurwitz, executive director of the Care Transformation Collaborative of RI, who praised the initiative’s efforts to address the primary care workforce shortage and enhance training opportunities for health care providers in Rhode Island.
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The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 16, 2025, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from Dec. 16 drawing
20-24-46-59-65, Mega Ball: 07
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 16 drawing
03-04-19-24-39, Lucky Ball: 11
Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Numbers numbers from Dec. 16 drawing
Midday: 0-5-9-8
Evening: 8-5-3-5
Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Wild Money numbers from Dec. 16 drawing
03-14-15-29-38, Extra: 30
Check Wild Money payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize
- Prizes less than $600 can be claimed at any Rhode Island Lottery Retailer. Prizes of $600 and above must be claimed at Lottery Headquarters, 1425 Pontiac Ave., Cranston, Rhode Island 02920.
- Mega Millions and Powerball jackpot winners can decide on cash or annuity payment within 60 days after becoming entitled to the prize. The annuitized prize shall be paid in 30 graduated annual installments.
- Winners of the Lucky for Life top prize of $1,000 a day for life and second prize of $25,000 a year for life can decide to collect the prize for a minimum of 20 years or take a lump sum cash payment.
When are the Rhode Island Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 10:30 p.m. ET daily.
- Numbers (Midday): 1:30 p.m. ET daily.
- Numbers (Evening): 7:29 p.m. ET daily.
- Wild Money: 7:29 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Rhode Island editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Authorities continue to search for Brown University gunman
Authorities are still searching for the gunman who opened fire on Brown University’s campus during finals.
The Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) is urging local elementary and secondary schools to review safety protocols following the mass shooting at Brown University.
Days after two people were killed and nine others were injured in a shooting on the college campus, the department reminded schools statewide to ensure they are following existing safety policies, including keeping exterior doors closed and locked at all times.
“While the events of this weekend are tragic, they are also a reminder and an opportunity to re-train, reinforce, and go through the necessary safety steps, once more,” Commissioner Angelica Infante-Green said in a statement.
She emphasized the importance of following the protocols, including visitor policies, “as designed and written.”
In its latest announcement, RIDE also provided a list of resources for students, families, and school staff for “navigating difficult conversations” about topics such as violence and hate.
Rhode Island schools reminded to keep interior doors closed, exterior doors closed and locked
While all exterior doors should remain closed and locked, the department said, all interior doors should also remain closed. All visitors should go through a single, secure point of entry, according to RIDE.
In Providence, all elementary, middle, and high schools are also required to establish staff “crisis teams” and conduct 15 safety drills each year, according to the district’s existing safety protocols.
In the wake of the Brown University shooting on Dec. 13, Providence Public Schools said students should expect an increased police presence on and near their campuses.
All after-school activities, sporting events, and field trips at Providence schools planned for Monday, Dec. 15, and Tuesday, Dec. 16, were canceled out of an “abundance of caution.”
The district said that it would announce its plans for the rest of the week as soon as possible.
The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 15, 2025, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from Dec. 15 drawing
23-35-59-63-68, Powerball: 02, Power Play: 4
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 15 drawing
12-16-27-34-41, Lucky Ball: 12
Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Numbers numbers from Dec. 15 drawing
Midday: 4-9-8-3
Evening: 1-3-5-3
Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Wild Money numbers from Dec. 15 drawing
10-13-28-33-37, Extra: 35
Check Wild Money payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize
- Prizes less than $600 can be claimed at any Rhode Island Lottery Retailer. Prizes of $600 and above must be claimed at Lottery Headquarters, 1425 Pontiac Ave., Cranston, Rhode Island 02920.
- Mega Millions and Powerball jackpot winners can decide on cash or annuity payment within 60 days after becoming entitled to the prize. The annuitized prize shall be paid in 30 graduated annual installments.
- Winners of the Lucky for Life top prize of $1,000 a day for life and second prize of $25,000 a year for life can decide to collect the prize for a minimum of 20 years or take a lump sum cash payment.
When are the Rhode Island Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 10:30 p.m. ET daily.
- Numbers (Midday): 1:30 p.m. ET daily.
- Numbers (Evening): 7:29 p.m. ET daily.
- Wild Money: 7:29 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Rhode Island editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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