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HB 7795

AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- MEDICAL ASSISTANCE

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Lauren Carson and 9 co-sponsors

Rhode Island expands Medicaid to reimburse services by supervised graduate student interns in mental health, under approved supervision and licensure/internship paths.

04/30/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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Bill Summary · HB 7795

Summary of HB 7795 (Rhode Island, 2026)

Title

AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- MEDICAL ASSISTANCE

Purpose and Intent

  • To expand Medicaid (Medical Assistance) coverage to include services provided by graduate student interns in the mental health field who are formally assigned to an agency or facility for clinical training.
  • The bill aims to support the training of future mental health professionals by allowing Medicaid reimbursement for services delivered by supervised graduate student interns, with a mechanism for compensation and supervision costs.

Key Provisions

  • Section 40-8-33 (new):
    • Medicaid reimbursement under Rhode Island’s Medical Assistance program shall cover services provided by a graduate student intern in a mental health professional discipline.
    • The intern must be formally assigned by an accredited college/university to an agency or facility for clinical training.
    • The supervising organization may retain a portion of the compensation received from reimbursed hours to cover expenses related to supervision.
    • Eligible interns must meet one of the following: 1) Comply with licensure or board certification requirements for mental health professionals, including supervised practice in delivering mental health services for treatment of mental illness; or 2) Be a graduate student in a bona fide field placement or internship that leads to completion of licensure requirements for a mental health professional.
  • Section 1 (general applicability):
    • Explicitly states that the described graduate student services are covered notwithstanding any general law, public law, special law, rule, or regulation to the contrary.
  • Section 2:
    • The act takes effect upon passage.

Who Is Affected

  • Primary beneficiaries:
    • Graduate student interns in mental health disciplines who participate in supervised clinical training approved by an accredited college/university.
    • Mental health services provided by these interns, when performed under a formal supervisory protocol.
  • Supervising organizations (e.g., clinics, agencies, hospitals, and facilities):
    • Eligible to receive Medicaid reimbursement for services provided by supervised interns.
    • May retain a portion of the Medicaid-reimbursed compensation to cover supervision-related expenses.
  • Educational institutions:
    • Accredited colleges/universities placing students in clinical training arrangements with eligible providers, eligible for reimbursement for their students’ clinical services.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduction Date: February 12, 2026
  • Referred to: House Finance
  • Committee action history indicates ongoing consideration in spring 2026:
    • February 2026: Introduced and referred to House Finance.
    • April 24–30, 2026: Scheduled hearings/consideration; committee recommended the measure be held for further study (April 30, 2026).
  • Effective date: Upon passage (no delayed or phased-in start date).

Potential Impact

  • Expands Medicaid coverage to include services rendered by credentialed graduate student interns under supervision, potentially increasing access to mental health services for populations served by Medicaid.
  • Supports mental health workforce development by providing financial incentives for facilities to host interns and for supervisors to provide training.
  • Allows supervising entities to offset supervision costs through a portion of reimbursements, which may influence service delivery capacity and staffing models.
  • Removes potential barriers created by other laws that might limit reimbursement for graduate student-provided services, ensuring alignment with this program’s supervisory protocols.

Summary

HB 7795 broadens Medicaid reimbursement to include services performed by supervised graduate student interns in mental health fields, under licensure or internship pathways. It authorizes supervisory-based compensation, with supervising organizations able to retain a portion of reimbursement to cover supervision costs. The act is effective upon passage and aims to support training pipelines and access to mental health care within Rhode Island’s Medical Assistance program.

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

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