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SR 3346

SENATE RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO MAKE A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF RHODE ISLAND'S HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE RELATED TO EDUCATING AND RETAINING PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Alana DiMario and 7 co-sponsors

Creates a 15-member commission to study and improve Rhode Island’s primary care workforce, funding, and education to expand access to a usual source of care.

06/09/2026 Senate read and passed
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Bill Summary · SR 3346

Overview

  • Bill: SR 3346
  • Session: 2026 | Jurisdiction: Rhode Island
  • Title: Senate Resolution creating a special legislative commission to make a comprehensive study of Rhode Island's healthcare workforce related to educating and retaining primary care providers
  • Introduced by: Senators Lauria, Lawson, Kallman, Vargas, Valverde, DiMario, Murray, Urso
  • Date Introduced: June 4, 2026
  • Status: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

Purpose and Intent

  • To create a special legislative commission of 15 members to conduct a comprehensive study of Rhode Island’s healthcare workforce focused on educating and retaining primary care providers (PCPs).
  • The resolution emphasizes national and state-level concerns about access to primary care, noting that a substantial portion of Americans lack a PCP and Rhode Island residents face difficulty accessing primary care, leading to increased use of emergency and urgent care.
  • Aims to address Rhode Island’s limited medical education infrastructure and retention challenges for primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants by exploring coordinated investments in payment, team-based infrastructure, and career advancement opportunities.
  • Highlights concerning metrics: Rhode Island graduates about 106 primary care residents per year, but only about 15 plan to stay in-state.

Key Provisions

  • Commission Composition (15 members):
    • 4 Rhode Island Senate members (appointed by the President of the Senate)
    • 1 representative: Dean of the University of Rhode Island School of Medicine (or designee)
    • 1 representative: Dean of the Brown University School of Medicine (or designee)
    • 1 representative: President of the Nurse Practitioner Alliance of Rhode Island (or designee)
    • 1 representative: President of the Rhode Island Academy of Physician Assistants (or designee)
    • 1 representative: President of the Rhode Island Pharmacist Association (or designee)
    • 1 representative: Executive Director of the Rhode Island Medical Society (or designee)
    • 1 representative: Executive Director of the Care Transformation Collaborative Rhode Island (or designee)
    • 1 representative: A community health centers representative (appointed by Senate President)
    • 1 representative: A representative of community nonprofits (appointed by Senate President)
    • 2 representatives: Individuals with community expertise in primary care (appointed by Senate President)
  • Scope of Study:
    • Develop recommendations for establishing and financing adequate primary care graduate medical education (GME) resources in Rhode Island, leveraging community health center networks.
    • Produce an annual report on:
    • Rhode Islanders’ access to a usual source of care
    • Number and distribution of primary care clinicians in the state
    • Numbers entering and leaving practice in Rhode Island
    • Recommendations to ensure all Rhode Islanders have access to a usual source of care
    • Produce an annual report on the status of Rhode Island’s primary care institutional and clinical education resources and the programs supporting these students financially.
  • Procedures:
    • Immediate appointment and organization of the Commission upon passage.
    • The Senate President appoints the Chair.
    • Vacancies filled in the same manner as original appointments.
    • Members receive no compensation for their service.
    • All state departments/agencies to provide information as needed.
    • The Commission may be allocated an annual budget.
    • The Joint Committee on Legislative Services to provide suitable quarters.
    • The Commission to develop and submit recommendations annually to the President of the Senate.

Who Would Be Affected

  • Primary care providers (physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, pharmacists, etc.) in Rhode Island.
  • Medical education and training institutions in Rhode Island (including URI and Brown medical schools).
  • Community health centers, health-related nonprofit organizations, and state health systems.
  • Rhode Island residents, through potential changes to access to primary care and distribution of clinicians.

Timelines and Procedural Details

  • Upon passage: Commission members appointed; meetings called by the Senate President; chair appointed by the Senate President.
  • Ongoing function: The Commission is to be ongoing with annual recommendations and annual reports to the Senate President.
  • Budget: The Commission may receive annual budget resources as needed to fulfill its functions.
  • Reporting: Annual reports on access to care, workforce numbers, and educational resources must be produced.

Potential Impact

  • Provides a structured, ongoing mechanism to address Rhode Island’s primary care workforce challenges.
  • Could influence funding decisions for GME resources and support for primary care training.
  • Aims to improve access to a usual source of care for Rhode Island residents and to stabilize the supply and retention of PCPs, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants.
  • Encourages collaboration among academic medical centers, professional associations, community health centers, nonprofits, and state agencies.

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

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