The Marijuana Herald – Marijuana news and information
A group of Rhode Island State Senators filed Senate Bill 2567 today, proposing a new statewide universal health coverage program called “RICare” that would replace the current multi-payer model with a publicly financed, publicly administered system. The measure, titled the Universal and Unified Healthcare System Act, was introduced Feb. 13 and referred to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. The sponsors are State Senator Meghan Kallman (D), State Senator Melissa Murray (D), State Senator Pamela Lauria (D), State Senator Alana DiMario (D), State Senator Tiara Mack (D), State Senator Bridget Valverde (D), State Senator Linda Ujifusa (D), State Senator Samuel Zurier (D), and State Senator Jonathon Acosta (D).
Under the bill, all Rhode Island residents would be eligible for coverage through a single payment system. The proposal directs state officials to pursue federal waivers so that, to the greatest extent allowed, federal dollars tied to Medicaid, Medicare, RIChild and the health insurance exchange would flow into the new program…