Attorney General Peter F. Neronha has called on the Rhode Island Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner (OHIC) to adopt more assertive measures in its proposed amendments concerning primary care regulations. His comments, submitted publicly, address two pressing issues affecting primary care delivery in the state: the burden of prior authorization and the retention of primary care physicians.
OHIC recently proposed changes to its regulations under 230-RICR-20-30-4: Powers and Duties of the Office of the Health Commissioner. These changes would mandate insurance companies to reduce prior authorizations by 20% and allocate 10% of their payments towards primary care in upcoming years. Attorney General Neronha has urged OHIC to be more ambitious with these proposals and to ensure that any changes are based on data, thoroughly researched, and accessible to the public.
Regarding prior authorization, Neronha stated that OHIC should push for more significant reforms. On primary care investments, he emphasized the importance of tracking and reporting how insurance companies use funds to retain essential physicians in Rhode Island.
“Year after year, Rhode Islanders are required to pay more and more for their health insurance, and year after year, they see no return on these undue investments,” said Attorney General Neronha. “Consumers expect that the amount they pay for a product will directly reflect the product’s quality, and health insurance stands in stark contrast to this reasonable assumption. While this proposed amendment by OHIC seeks to pull in the reins on these insurance companies, who continue to line their pockets with the hard-earned money of Rhode Islanders, it doesn’t go far enough. If we are to ever fix our health care system, we must be bold and data driven in our approach to cost, administrative red tape, and holding on to our life-saving doctors. Only then can we begin to fix what is clearly broken.”
The Attorney General's comments stress a need for comprehensive strategies focusing on cost management, reducing bureaucratic hurdles, and ensuring physician retention as part of efforts to improve Rhode Island's healthcare system.