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HB 7586

AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Julie Casimiro and 9 co-sponsors

Rhode Island will align early intervention services for infants and toddlers with IDEA Part C, boost provider payments and staffing, and improve access and transparency to reduce w

05/14/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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Bill Summary · HB 7586

Summary of HB 7586 (Rhode Island, 2026)

Purpose and Intent

  • Update and strengthen Rhode Island’s maternal and child health services framework for children with special health care needs, with a focus on early intervention services for developmentally delayed or at-risk infants and toddlers (birth to age 3).
  • Align state provisions with federal IDEA Part C requirements and address ongoing staffing, wage, and access challenges in early intervention (EI).

Key Provisions and Changes

  • Scope and nomenclature updated

    • Reframes and clarifies the “Early Intervention Program for developmentally disabled infants” to be the EI program for infants and toddlers with developmental delays and/or disabilities, under Part C of IDEA.
    • Specifies roles: the Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) oversee EI delivery, with regulations subject to interagency coordination. Health Department regulations remain in effect until replaced.

  • Regulatory framework and service standards (Part C alignment)

    • Regulations must establish:
    • Early identification, referral, evaluation, and development of individualized family service plans (IFSPs) in a timely manner.
    • Timely enrollment for all identified infants; if on a waiting list for facility-based programming, an EI program must be available within 30 days of need identification.
    • Home visiting to begin as soon as a developmental issue is identified (unless parents opt out).

  • Complaint and information accessibility

    • Parents unhappy with decisions or services can file a written complaint within 30 days; the complaint is reviewed under AHHS/DOH policy and the Administrative Procedures Act.
    • EOHH S must post clear information about complaint rights and filing processes on the EI consumer public webpage, with translation into common languages.

  • Historical/oversight context and reporting

    • Reiterates existing expectations that EI is a comprehensive array of services (educational, developmental, health, social) on a calendar-year basis.
    • Requires periodic evaluation and reporting:
    • By Oct 1, 2004: plan describing outcomes and coordination among DHHS, DHS, and the Department of Education; a memorandum of understanding for coordination.
    • Regular reporting (every 6–12 months) on coordination progress, plan outcomes, and potential reimbursement modifications.

  • Payment rates and staffing (EOHHS duties)

    • EOHHS must pursue a Medicaid state plan amendment and allocate general revenue to increase EI service provider payment rates by the amount recommended in the 2025 SHS program review (Rhode Island Health Insurance Commissioner’s office).
    • Target: implement rate increases no later than Oct 1, 2026, to ensure competitive staffing (care coordinators, early educators, licensed professionals) for full Part C service delivery.

  • Public data dashboard and transparency

    • Maintain at least 2 years of data on the EI data dashboard on the public website, with:
    • Monthly updates on active children receiving Part C services.
    • Wait times: number of children waiting more than 45 days for an evaluation by residence, and average delay duration.
    • Updates every 6 months on EI staff: headcount, FTEs, vacancies by occupation, and changes.

Who is Affected

  • Children: Infants and toddlers under age 3 with developmental delays or disabilities eligible for IDEA Part C services.
  • Families/Parents: Those seeking EI services, with newly strengthened rights to timely evaluation, IFSP development, and clear complaint procedures; multilingual information access is emphasized.
  • Service Providers: EI providers, including early intervention agencies and therapists (speech, occupational, physical), who would see higher reimbursement rates and a more stable staffing environment.
  • State Agencies: EOHHS (lead on rate adjustments and dashboard), DHS (overseeing EI eligibility and service delivery), Department of Health (regulatory framework until replacement), and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (coordination in the interagency framework).

Timeline and Effective Date

  • Effective date: Upon passage.
  • Key implementation milestones:
    • Rate increase: implement EI rate increases by October 1, 2026, funded via Medicaid state plan amendment and state general revenue.
    • Data dashboard: ongoing maintenance and public reporting, with updates as specified (monthly for service activity and wait times; semiannual for staffing).

Additional Context

  • The bill responds to historical staffing shortages and waitlists in Rhode Island’s EI program, noting prior Medicaid rate freezes and subsequent improvements. It aims to sustain gains in staffing and reduce waiting times while enhancing transparency and coordination across state agencies.

If you’d like, I can provide a side-by-side comparison with current law or draft a plain-language briefing for policymakers or the public.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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