PARTNERS and ALLIES

Economic Progress Institute, Mental Health Association RI, RI NOW, RIPIN, RI Health Center Association, United Way of Rhode Island, Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, RI Interfaith Coalition to Reduce Poverty, SEIU Rhode Island Council, Rhode Island Coalition for Children and Families, Womxn Project, HousingWorks RI, Rhode Island Organizing Project (RIOP), National Association of Social Workers RI Chapter, Thundermist Health Center, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Foster Forward, RI Medical Society, RI Coalition for the Homeless, Rhode Island Working Families Party, Mental Health Recovery Coalition, RI Lung Association, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Oasis Wellness & Recovery Center, RI Community Food Bank, RI Psychological Association, Advocates for Better Care

About

Mission and Vision

Mission

Protect, improve, and expand equitable access to quality, person-centered, affordable healthcare. We advocate for policies that build systems that work for all.

Vision

We envision a state where the health and well-being of all people are a priority.

Action

Take Action

Your story will help identify Rhode Islanders' issues in accessing health care. It will help us identify effetive strategies to address those issues through advocacy and education.

If you, or someone you know, has:

Bought health insurance thinking you were covered, only to find out that a service you needed was not covered
Not filled a prescription, skipped a recommended test or follow-up, or had a medical problem but did not go to the doctor because you could not afford it
Had trouble paying your medical bills or struggled to pay off a large amount of medical debt
Experienced some other health care coverage related problem

Then we want to hear from you!

Share Your Story

2024 Legislative Agenda

All Rhode Islanders should have access to the health care they need when they need it. Health insurance must be affordable and comprehensive so people can access medical services and care. For too many Rhode Islanders, our system of health coverage is just not working. The Affordable Care Act has helped many Rhode Islanders get health coverage by expanding Medicaid and establishing subsidized commercial coverage through HealthSourceRI. Medicare covers seniors and people with disabilities. Yet too many people still struggle to get the care they need because providers are not available or out-of-pocket costs are too high. The Campaign for Healthcare Access and Affordability, including the following 2024 legislative priorities:

Invest in MEDICAID and MEDICARE to improve access, equity, and affordability:

Expand the Medicare Savings Programs by raising income eligibility & eliminating the asset test to improve access and affordability for Rhode Island seniors and people with disabilities.
Increase Medicaid reimbursement rates to help stabilize our healthcare delivery system and enhance access to services for Rhode Islanders.
Enact continuous coverage in Medicaid for children birth through age 5 to eliminate disruptions in access to care for our youngest Rhode Islanders.
Strengthen AFFORDABILITY, consumer protections, and covered services in the commercial marketplace:
Enact state-based premium and cost-sharing assistance to improve affordability in the state’s HealthSourceRI marketplace.
Codify the ACA’s prohibition of annual and lifetime limits in commercial coverage to sustain this affordability mechanism that has demonstrated a reduction in medical debt and increased access to care.
Expand access to no-cost-share contraception to include the full range of contraception and to guarantee coverage of any new over-the-counter methods.
Enact medical debt protection for all Rhode Islanders.

Improve ACCESS and QUALITY in our state’s healthcare delivery system:

Address access to behavioral healthcare by increasing reimbursement rates in commercial coverage.
Expand the RI Health Professionals Loan Repayment Program to help stabilize and build our state’s primary and behavioral health practitioner network.
Enact the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board to elevate care quality for nursing home patients and establish fair wages for workers.
Enact a state ‘Shield law’ to protect access to providers of gender-affirming and abortion care.

Reduce HEALTH DISPARITIES and improve HEALTH EQUITY so all Rhode Islanders can live full and healthy lives:

Expand access to safe, affordable housing & address the homeless crisis, including increased rental assistance for low-income households, creating a Tenant’s Bill of Rights, and investing in Rhode Island’s Lead Safe Prevention program.
Implement Healthy School Meals for All so all students can learn and thrive.
Enact the Revenue for Rhode Islanders proposal to increase state revenue with a new 3% millionaires’ tax.
Improve the state’s Paid Family Leave Act.
Invest in affordable public transit to support Rhode Islanders' economic well-being and reduce the health and climate impact of toxic greenhouse gases.
Require an annual equity impact review of the Rhode Island state budget for potential disparities in regard to race, gender, and disability.

Health Disparities

Medicaid matters to Rhode Islanders. Hear from local Medicaid recipients why Medicaid matters to them, and why it matters to our State.

MORE FACTS:

Summary of Enacted RI 2024 FY Budget and General Assembly Session Review from the Economic Progress Institute

2023 Rhode Island KIDS Count Data Book

2022 HousingWorksRI Housing Factbook

Understanding Medicaid Renewal Unwinding

Rhode Island is conducting renewals of all Medicaid members as part of the post-pandemic "Return to Normal Operations." The Protect Our Healthcare Coalition has prepared materials to help Medicaid enrollees and the network of community helpers understand the renewal process and take timely steps to complete renewal. Below are links to some helpful materials:

NEW! Fact sheet available in Spanish and English targeted to families in which some members are not citizens. We are concerned that these families may be reluctant to renew or apply for Medicaid coverage because of the "chilling effect" of Trump-era policies that made immigrants fearful of applying for public benefits due to public charge concerns. In addition, language barriers may hinder completing Medicaid renewal. Click for English. Click for Spanish.

MOBILE NAVIGATOR PROGRAM! The RI Health Center Association has partnered with EOHHS to fund this program, which will send a mobile navigator team to work with community-based organizations to assist with Medicaid renewals. You can read more about this program and schedule a mobile team visit at the following link: https://staycovered.ri.gov/info-community-organizations/request-mobile-navigator.

TRAINING: Medicaid Renewal Basics, Helping Families Stay Covered. Protect Our Healthcare has presented several webinars for community-based organizations serving families. The training presentation includes information and pictures about the renewal-related documents that families will receive, tips for helping families complete renewal, and 'where to go for help.' You can view and download the slides here.

RIPIN WEBINAR: Understanding Medicaid Redeterminations. Last month, RIPIN presented a webinar about the overall renewal process. You can view that webinar HERE.

NEW DHS Office has opened at 1 Holden Street in Providence. It houses a scanning center where people can have their renewal forms and related documents scanned into the system. This is a very safe and effective way to ensure that DHS receives renewal materials in a timely way.

We have updated the Protect Our Healthcare Coalition's Helper's Handbook to Medicaid Renewals and the Appeals Fact Sheet to include the information about this new site.

Visit https://staycovered.ri.gov/ for ongoing updates from EOHHS.