§ 27-20-75. Perinatal doulas.
(a) As used in this section, “doula” or “perinatal doula” means a trained professional providing continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to a pregnant individual, from antepartum, intrapartum, and up to the first twelve (12) months of the postpartum period. Doulas also provide assistance by referring childbearing individuals to community-based organizations and certified and licensed perinatal professionals in multiple disciplines.
(b) Every individual or group health insurance contract, or every individual or group hospital or medical expense insurance policy, plan, or group policy delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this state on or after July 1, 2022, shall provide coverage for the services of perinatal doulas in accordance with each health insurer’s respective principles and mechanisms of reimbursement, credentialing, and contracting, if the services are within the perinatal doulas’ area of professional competence as defined by the doula certification standard developed and maintained by the Rhode Island certification board in collaboration with the department of health, and are currently reimbursed when rendered by any other healthcare provider. No insurer or hospital or medical service corporation may require supervision, signature, or referral by any other healthcare provider as a condition of reimbursement, except when those requirements are also applicable to other categories of healthcare providers. No insurer or hospital or medical service corporation or patient may be required to pay for duplicate services actually rendered by both a perinatal doula and any other healthcare provider.
(c) Every individual or group health insurance contract, or every individual or group hospital or medical expense insurance policy, plan, or group policy delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this state that is required to cover perinatal doula services, as defined in subsections (a) and (b) of this section, shall report utilization and cost information related to perinatal doula services to the office of the health insurance commissioner on or before July 1, 2023, and each July 1 thereafter. The office of the health insurance commissioner shall define the utilization and cost information required to be reported.
(d) This section shall not apply to insurance coverage providing benefits for:
(1) Hospital confinement indemnity;
(2) Disability income;
(3) Accident only;
(4) Long-term care;
(5) Medicare supplement;
(6) Limited-benefit health;
(7) Specified disease indemnity;
(8) Sickness or bodily injury or death by accident or both; and
(9) Other limited-benefit policies.
History of Section.P.L. 2021, ch. 209, § 4, effective July 1, 2022; P.L. 2021, ch. 321, § 4, effective July 1, 2022.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 27-20 - Nonprofit Medical Service Corporations
Section 27-20-1. - Definitions.
Section 27-20-1.1. - Applicability.
Section 27-20-2. - Organization as charitable corporation — Insurance laws inapplicable.
Section 27-20-3. - Qualifications of directors.
Section 27-20-4. - Approval of articles of association.
Section 27-20-5. - Contracts with subscribers.
Section 27-20-5.1. - Cancellation of coverage by employers.
Section 27-20-5.2. - Repealed.
Section 27-20-5.3. - Patient responsibility — Administrative requirements.
Section 27-20-6.1. - Uniform explanation of benefits and coverage.
Section 27-20-6.2. - Filing of policy forms.
Section 27-20-7. - Relationship of physician and patient — Actions against corporation.
Section 27-20-8. - Annual and quarterly statements.
Section 27-20-9. - Examination of affairs of corporation.
Section 27-20-10. - Commission plans for solicitors or insurance producers.
Section 27-20-11. - Investment standards.
Section 27-20-12. - Corporation deemed public charitable institution.
Section 27-20-13. - Adoption of chapter by hospital service corporation.
Section 27-20-14. - Coverage for adoptive children.
Section 27-20-15. - Itemized bills for services rendered.
Section 27-20-16. - Changing coverage.
Section 27-20-17. - Mammograms and pap smears — Coverage mandated.
Section 27-20-17.1. - Insurance coverage for post-partum hospital stays.
Section 27-20-18. - Mammograms — Quality assurance standards.
Section 27-20-19. - Pap smears — Quality assurance standards.
Section 27-20-20. - Coverage for infertility.
Section 27-20-21. - Nonprofit medical service corporation assessment.
Section 27-20-22. - Discontinuance of coverage — Chronic disabilities.
Section 27-20-23. - Drug coverage.
Section 27-20-23.1. - Medication synchronization.
Section 27-20-24. - Rehabilitation, liquidation, or conservation.
Section 27-20-25. - Holding company systems.
Section 27-20-25.1. - No derogation of attorney general.
Section 27-20-25.2. - Health insurance rates.
Section 27-20-26. - Regulations.
Section 27-20-27.1. - “Reliable evidence” defined. [Repealed on effective date of § 27-20-64.]
Section 27-20-27.2. - Conditions of coverage. [Repealed on effective date of § 27-20-64.]
Section 27-20-27.3. - Managed care. [Repealed on effective date of § 27-20-64.]
Section 27-20-29. - Mastectomy treatment.
Section 27-20-29.1. - Insurance coverage for mastectomy hospital stays.
Section 27-20-30. - Diabetes treatment.
Section 27-20-31. - Primary and preventive obstetric and gynecological care.
Section 27-20-31.1. - Hysterectomy or myomectomy treatment.
Section 27-20-32. - Whistleblowers protection.
Section 27-20-33. - Penalties and remedies.
Section 27-20-34. - Additional relief and damages — Reinstatement.
Section 27-20-35. - Third-party reimbursement for services of certain healthcare workers.
Section 27-20-35.1. - Third party reimbursement for services of registered nurse first assistants.
Section 27-20-36. - Human leukocyte antigen testing.
Section 27-20-37. - Drug coverage.
Section 27-20-38. - Restricted annual rate payments prohibited.
Section 27-20-39. - Genetic testing.
Section 27-20-39.1. - Genetic information.
Section 27-20-41. - Magnetic resonance imaging — Quality assurance standards.
Section 27-20-42. - Acupuncture services.
Section 27-20-43. - F.D.A. approved prescription contraceptive drugs and devices.
Section 27-20-45. - Eligibility for children’s benefits.
Section 27-20-46. - Hearing aids.
Section 27-20-47. - Prompt processing of claims.
Section 27-20-48. - Mandatory coverage for certain lyme disease treatments.
Section 27-20-49. - Dental insurance assignment of benefits.
Section 27-20-50. - Coverage for early intervention services.
Section 27-20-51. - Post-payment audits.
Section 27-20-52. - Reimbursement for orthotics and prosthetic services.
Section 27-20-53. - Tobacco cessation programs.
Section 27-20-54. - Mandatory coverage for scalp hair prosthesis.
Section 27-20-55. - Licensed ambulance service.
Section 27-20-56. - Enteral nutrition products.
Section 27-20-57. - Prohibition on preexisting condition exclusions.
Section 27-20-58. - Prohibition on rescission of coverage.
Section 27-20-59. - Annual and lifetime limits.
Section 27-20-60. - Coverage for individuals participating in approved clinical trials.
Section 27-20-61. - Medical loss ratio reporting and rebates.
Section 27-20-62. - Emergency services.
Section 27-20-63. - Internal and external appeal of adverse benefit determinations.
Section 27-20-65. - Primary care provider designation requirement.
Section 27-20-66. - Discretionary clauses.
Section 27-20-67. - Orally administered anticancer medication — Cost-sharing requirement.
Section 27-20-68. - Consumer notification.
Section 27-20-69. - Opioid antagonists.
Section 27-20-70. - Healthcare provider credentialing.
Section 27-20-71. - Unfair discrimination prohibited.
Section 27-20-72. - Health insurance contracts — Full year coverage for contraception.
Section 27-20-73. - Prohibition on discrimination in organ transplants.
Section 27-20-74. - Health insurance contracts — Copayments exemption for COVID-19 vaccinations.
Section 27-20-75. - Perinatal doulas.
Section 27-20-76. - Gender rating. [Effective January 1, 2023.]