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SB 2241

AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- MEDICAL ASSISTANCE

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jonathon Acosta and 9 co-sponsors

Rhode Island Medicaid would cover and reimburse supervised clinical services provided by graduate student interns in mental health, with some funds allowed for supervising overhead

05/05/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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Bill Summary · SB 2241

Summary of Bill: SB 2241 (Rhode Island), 2026 Session

Title

AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- MEDICAL ASSISTANCE

Purpose and Intent

  • Expands Medicaid reimbursement to cover services provided by graduate student interns in mental health professional disciplines who are clinically trained and supervised.
  • Aims to support mental health training pipelines by enabling payment for supervised clinical work performed by graduate students, while allowing supervising organizations to retain a portion of the compensation to cover supervisory overhead.

Key Provisions

  • Location in law: Adds a new section to Chapter 40-8 of the General Laws (Medical Assistance).
  • Coverage of services:
    • Medicaid reimbursement shall cover services provided by a graduate student intern in one of the mental health professional disciplines who is formally assigned by an accredited college/university to an agency or facility for clinical training.
  • Compensation and supervision:
    • The graduate student intern may receive compensation from the reimbursed hours.
    • The supervising organization may retain a portion of the compensation to cover supervisory expenses related to the trainee.
  • Eligibility criteria for trainees:
    • The trainee must either: 1) Comply with licensure or board certification requirements as a mental health professional, including supervised practice in delivering mental health services; or 2) Be a graduate student in a bona fide field placement or internship that leads to licensure requirements as a mental health professional.
  • Effective date: The act takes effect upon passage (immediate upon enactment).

Affected Parties

  • Graduate student interns in mental health disciplines (e.g., psychology, social work, counseling, psychiatry-related tracks) who are formally placed by accredited colleges/universities for clinical training.
  • Supervising organizations (e.g., mental health agencies, clinics, facilities) that host and supervise interns and provide clinical services.
  • Medicaid program administration and participating providers within Rhode Island.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Referred to Senate Finance upon introduction.
  • Scheduled for hearing/consideration around May 2026 (Action History indicates a hearing/committee review date set for 05/05/2026).

Potential Impact and Implications

  • Expands Medicaid coverage to include services performed by graduate student interns under proper supervision, which could increase access to mental health services delivered through training programs.
  • May financially support training pipelines by ensuring compensation for interns and providing administrative funds for supervisory costs.
  • Could help alleviate workforce shortages in mental health by integrating supervised, billable services into Medicaid, potentially increasing the availability of reimbursable clinical hours for students and supervising providers.
  • Administrative implications for Medicaid billing: need for supervision protocols and proper documentation to ensure reimbursement eligibility and compliance with licensure/internship requirements.

Notes

  • The bill explicitly states it overrides any contrary general, public, or special laws, rules, or regulations to ensure Medicaid reimbursement for these services.
  • The exact percentage or dollar amount of the supervisor’s retained compensation is not specified in the text provided; it authorizes retention of a portion to cover supervisory expenses.

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

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