PROVIDENCE — Gov. Gina M. Raimondo signed an executive order Wednesday formalizing her commitment to preserve the Affordable Care Act by directing state agencies to take “all necessary actions,” to protect access to quality health care.
The order instructs the R.I. Executive Office of Health and Human Services, HealthSource RI, and the R.I. Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner with protecting health care access, maintaining affordability and ensuring the public is informed and educated about their options.
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“It is important to take a step back and recognize why this is so significant. We have the fourth highest insured rate in the country, meaning the vast majority of Rhode Islanders have protection from the unforeseen. They know if they get sick or are in an accident, they don’t have to choose between financial ruin and getting necessary treatments,” said Raimondo. “No matter what happens in Washington, I am committed to defending Rhode Islanders’ access to high-quality, affordable health coverage.”
Under the order, state officials will search for ways to strengthen protections in state law for people with preexisting conditions, prescription drug coverage and maternity coverage. Rhode Island will also continue to guard against predatory health plans that discriminate based on pre-existing conditions and do not cover essential health benefits, Raimondo’s office reported.
HSRI has taken several proactive steps in the last few years in safeguarding health care access. The most recent was applications for 1332 waivers through the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services for a reinsurance program to reduce Affordable Care Act individual market premiums and to allow sole proprietors to purchase health insurance from the employer exchange.
The applications take advantage of The Rhode Island Market Stability and Reinsurance Act, sponsored by Senate Health and Human Services Committee Chairman Joshua Miller, D-Cranston, and Rep. John G. Edwards, D-Portsmouth, and signed by Gov. Gina M. Raimondo July 3. The law is meant to stabilize health insurance rates and premiums in the individual market using reinsurance.
“The state is committed to protecting access to health care to ensure a future where more, not less, Rhode Islanders have health insurance,” said HSRI Director Zachary W. Sherman. “Individuals and families who depend on the Affordable Care Act for health coverage should rest assured that because of the state’s protective actions, they will continue to see quality, low-cost options this Open Enrollment.”
More than 95 percent of Rhode Islanders are insured thanks to the efforts of state officials working within the Affordable Care Act guidelines. Rhode Island has one of the lowest uninsured rates in the country. Since the launch of HealthSource RI and Medicaid expansion, Rhode Island’s uninsured rate has been cut by nearly two-thirds. In total, more than 100,000 Rhode Islanders have coverage because of the ACA.
“We cannot afford to lose the gains we’ve made as a result of the ACA,” said R.I. Health Insurance Commissioner Dr. Marie L. Ganim. “The Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner will continue to work with the Governor and the General Assembly to protect Rhode Island from any attempts to dismantle crucial consumer and market stability protections.”
Rob Borkowski is a PBN staff writer. Email him at Borkowski@PBN.com.
