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SB 2383

AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jonathon Acosta and 10 co-sponsors

Rhode Island health plans would be required to cover licensed certified lactation counselor services starting Jan 1, 2027, with rules to simplify reimbursement and annual usage/cos

05/05/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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Bill Summary · SB 2383

Summary of Bill SB 2383 (Rhode Island, 2026)

Overview

  • Title: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES
  • Jurisdiction: Rhode Island
  • Session: 2026
  • Introduced: January 30, 2026
  • Primary aim: Require health insurance coverage for licensed certified lactation counselor (LCLC) services across various types of health insurance products, with reporting requirements and specific exclusions.
  • Effective date: January 1, 2027

1) Main Purpose and Intent

The bill seeks to ensure that lactation support services provided by licensed certified lactation counselors are covered by health insurance plans. It aims to remove barriers to reimbursement (no required supervision or referral, no duplicate payments) and to establish surgical-like reporting of utilization and costs to the state Insurance Commissioner.

2) Key Provisions and Changes

Coverage Requirements

  • Applies to:
    • Individual and group health insurance contracts
    • Hospital or medical expense policies
    • Health maintenance organizations (HMOs)
    • Nonprofit hospital service corporations
    • Nonprofit medical service corporations
  • Effective for policies delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027.
  • Coverage must be for services of licensed certified lactation counselors (LCLCs), when within the counselor’s scope of practice (per Chapter 13.8 of Title 23).
  • Coverage must align with insurers’ existing reimbursement, credentialing, and contracting practices.
  • Services must be currently reimbursed when rendered by other health care providers.
  • Prohibits:
    • Requiring supervision, signature, or referral by another health care provider as a condition of reimbursement (except where similarly required for other providers).
    • Paying for duplicate services rendered by both an LCLC and another health care provider.

Scope and Definitions

  • The LCLC is defined as a trained professional licensed and certified by the Rhode Island Department of Health per Chapter 13.8, Title 23.
  • Services covered include assessment, evaluation, problem identification, treatment, education, and consultation related to lactation care for birth to 12 months old.

Reporting Requirements

  • Insurers must report utilization and cost information related to LCLC services to the Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner (OHIC) on or before July 1, 2027, and annually thereafter on July 1.
  • OHIC will define the specific utilization and cost data to be reported.

Exclusions

  • The following coverages are not required to include LCLC services:
    • Hospital confinement indemnity
    • Disability income
    • Accident-only coverage
    • Long-term care
    • Medicare supplement
    • Limited benefit health
    • Specified disease indemnity
    • Sickness or bodily injury or death by accident or both
    • Other limited benefit policies

Other Lines Affected

  • The bill adds identical provisions for:
    • Chapter 27-18 (Accident and Sickness Insurance Policies)
    • Chapter 27-19 (Nonprofit Hospital Service Corporations)
    • Chapter 27-20 (Nonprofit Medical Service Corporations)
    • Chapter 27-41 (Health Maintenance Organizations)

(Chapter numbers indicate the sections of Rhode Island General Laws being amended to include LCLC coverage.)

3) Who and What Is Affected

  • Individuals and groups with health insurance in Rhode Island, under the specified policy types, will be covered for LCLC services beginning January 1, 2027.
  • Licensed certified lactation counselors (as defined by RI law) will be the service providers eligible for reimbursement under these policies.
  • Insurers and health care providers must adhere to nondiscrimination in reimbursement processes and avoid duplicate payments.

4) Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Effective Date: January 1, 2027.
  • Initial required reporting deadline: July 1, 2027, with annual submissions every July 1 thereafter.
  • OHIC will define the exact data elements to be reported.
  • The act explicitly carves out several limited-benefit or specialized coverage types from mandatory LCLC coverage.

5) Practical Implications

  • Potentially improves access to lactation support for new and expectant parents by ensuring insurance coverage for LCLC services.
  • Could reduce out-of-pocket costs for families seeking lactation support.
  • Creates a data stream to OHIC that can inform future policy decisions and potential adjustments to coverage practices.

6) Summary Phrase

SB 2383 would require most Rhode Island health insurance plans to cover licensed certified lactation counselor services starting in 2027, prohibit certain barriers to reimbursement, and mandate annual utilization and cost reporting to the state, with specified exceptions for certain limited-benefit coverages.

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

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