Rhode IslandHealth plans cannot reject bills solely over another party’s involvement
Rhode Island law bars doctors from withholding insurance bills and health plans from rejecting them solely over another party’s involvement, except workers’ compensation claims.
What it does
Health plans cannot reject a medical bill solely because it may arise from a claim or incident involving someone else. Workers’ compensation claims are excluded.
Doctors commit unprofessional conduct if they withhold bills from health insurers solely because a claim or incident involving someone else may be involved. Workers’ compensation claims are excluded.
Argument forPatients could face fewer barriers to using health insurance when their medical bills involve a claim against someone else.
Argument againstHealth plans could face more claim-processing work because another party’s possible responsibility alone does not allow them to reject a bill.
More detail
Health plans cannot deny payment solely because a medical bill may arise from a claim or incident involving someone else. The rule covers health insurers and health plans operating in Rhode Island, including nonprofit medical plans and health maintenance organizations. Workers’ compensation claims are excluded from this restriction. Other reasons for denying payment remain possible; this rule does not require payment of every medical bill. The law takes effect upon passage.
The law treats a doctor’s failure to submit these medical bills to a health insurer as unprofessional conduct. The rule concerns doctors governed by Rhode Island’s medical licensing law. The possible connection to a claim or incident involving someone else must be the only reason for not submitting the bill. Workers’ compensation claims are excluded. The law takes effect upon passage.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 2206/22/2026 Signed by Governor Dan McKeeBecame Law
- Jun 1806/18/2026 Transmitted to GovernorTo Governor
- Jun 1006/10/2026 Senate passed in concurrencePassed Senate
- Jun 906/09/2026 Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar (06/10/2026)Minor
- Jun 906/09/2026 Committee recommends passage in concurrenceMinor
- Jun 506/05/2026 Scheduled for consideration (06/09/2026)
- Mar 2703/27/2026 Referred to Senate Health and Human ServicesMinor
- Mar 1703/17/2026 House read and passedPassed House
- Vote recorded PASSAGE. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 1303/13/2026 Placed on House Calendar (03/17/2026)Minor
- Mar 1203/12/2026 Committee recommends passageMinor
- Mar 603/06/2026 Scheduled for consideration (03/12/2026)
- Jan 2001/20/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further studyMinor
- Jan 1601/16/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (01/20/2026)
- Jan 701/07/2026 Introduced, referred to House CorporationsIntroduced
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