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SB 2785

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

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jonathon Acosta and 8 co-sponsors

Raises Medicaid rates and funds to expand Rhode Island Part C early intervention, reducing wait times and boosting staffing for infants and toddlers with developmental needs.

04/29/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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Bill Summary · SB 2785

Summary: SB 2785 (Rhode Island, 2026) — Maternal and Child Health Services for Children with Special Health Care Needs

Purpose and Intent

  • Update and strengthen Rhode Island’s early intervention framework for infants and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities (Part C of IDEA).
  • Ensure timely identification, evaluation, and service delivery; improve provider reimbursement to support staffing; and increase public transparency through data reporting.
  • Align state law with federal early intervention requirements while addressing staffing shortages and wait times in the program.

Key Provisions and Changes

1) Redefined Agency Roles and Scope

  • Clarifies and updates the description of the early intervention program and the agency responsible for administering Part C services.
    • The Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) coordinate with the interagency coordinating council.
    • Regulations will be promulgated with guidance from the interagency coordinating council; health department regulations will remain in effect until replaced by DHS/EOHHS regulations.

2) Early Identification, Referral, and Service Delivery Standards

  • Establishes procedures for the earliest possible identification and efficient referral and evaluation of all developmentally disabled infants and toddlers under three.
  • Ensures that individualized family service plans (IFSPs) are developed and that IDEA services are provided in a timely manner.
  • Requires enrollment of every identified infant as soon as possible after birth; for infants on waiting lists for facility-based group programs, an early intervention program must be available within 30 days of need identification.

3) Home Visiting and Parent Complaint Process

  • Home visiting (as part of the program) should commence as soon as a possible developmental disability is identified, unless parents refuse the service.
  • Establishes a formal process for parents to file complaints about evaluations, eligibility determinations, service levels, and practices; complaints must be reviewed under EOHHS procedures and the Administrative Procedures Act.
  • Requires clear, multilingual information about complaint rights and processes to be posted on the main public webpage for early intervention consumers.

4) Data, Reporting, and Accountability

  • Requires EOHHS to maintain and publish data related to early intervention on a public dashboard, including:
    • Monthly updates on the number of active children receiving IDEA Part C services.
    • The number of children waiting more than 45 days for an evaluation and the average wait time.
    • Semi-annual updates on staffing, including the number of unique staff, FTEs, vacancies by occupation, and changes in vacancy rates.
  • Mandates annual reporting and coordination milestones among DHS, EOHHS, and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) with oversight committees, as well as alignment with reporting requirements under federal IDEA.

5) Medicaid Rate Increases to Support Staffing (Funding)

  • Directs EOHHS to pursue a Medicaid state plan amendment and allocate state general revenue to increase Medicaid payment rates for early intervention services.
    • Estimated funding: $211,200 (one-time or ongoing as determined by the rate review) to support increased rates, enabling providers to cover staffing costs (e.g., service coordinators, early educators, licensed professionals).
    • Implementation target: Rate increases to be enacted by October 1, 2026.
  • The goal is to improve staffing adequacy and reduce wait times by providing fair compensation for qualified professionals delivering Part C services.

Who Would Be Affected

  • Infants and toddlers under age three who have developmental delays or disabilities and their families (eligible for Part C services).
  • Early intervention service providers and staffing entities (therapists, service coordinators, early educators).
  • State agencies: Department of Human Services, Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Department of Health, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
  • Families and caregivers seeking services; the public will have access to an updated, multilingual complaint process and an openly accessible data dashboard.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Effective Date: Upon passage.
  • Implementation timeline includes:
    • Regulation updates by DHS/EOHHS, with existing Health Department regulations remaining in force until replaced.
    • Medicaid payment rate increases implemented by October 1, 2026.
    • Ongoing data dashboard maintenance and semi-annual staffing updates.
  • The act emphasizes accountability through oversight committee reporting and regular updates to the public.

Potential Impacts

  • Improved timeliness of evaluations and IFSP development for young children.
  • Greater access to early intervention services with reduced wait times (target: within 30 days for certain needs).
  • Increased transparency via a publicly accessible dashboard and multilingual complaint information.
  • Enhanced financial support for providers to recruit and retain qualified staff, potentially reducing vacancies and improving service continuity.
  • Strengthened coordination among state agencies to deliver comprehensive early intervention services aligned with IDEA Part C.

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

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