Rhode Island legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Rhode Island H8175: AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- MEDICAL ASSISTANCE (Requires Medicaid to cover services by licensed certified lactation cou
Status: Failed, May 5, 2026
AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- MEDICAL ASSISTANCE (Requires Medicaid to cover services by licensed certified lactation counselors and EOHHS to oversee and implement the program and track related costs and use. It also ensures reimbursement consistent with similar providers.)
What the bill says
From the introduced text, February 27, 2026:
2026 -- H 8175 ======== LC005545 ======== STATEOFRHODEISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ ANACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- MEDICAL ASSISTANCE Introduced By: Representatives Stewart, Tanzi, Voas, Giraldo, Furtado, Alzate, Cruz, Casimiro, Edwards, and Diaz Date Introduced: February 27, 2026 Referred To: House Finance It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Chapter 40-8 of the General Laws entitled "Medical Assistance" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 40-8-33. Licensed certified lactation counselor -- Medicaid coverage. (a) As used in this section, "licensed certified lactation counselor" means a trained professional who holds a licensure and certification by the department of health in accordance with chapter 13.8 of title 23. Licensed certified lactation counselors provide services in assessment, evaluation, problem identification, treatment, education, and consultation to provide lactation care and services to childbearing families, and infant children from birth to twelve (12) months old within the scope of practice pursuant to § 23-13.8-9. (b) The executive office of health and human services ("EOHHS") shall provide coverage under the Medicaid program for services provided by a licensed certified lactation counselor, when such services are within the counselor's lawful scope of practice and are otherwise eligible for coverage under the Medicaid state plan or a waiver approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. …
Sponsors
- Jennifer Stewart (D, HD-059) · primary sponsor
- Teresa Tanzi (D, HD-034)
- Brandon Voas (D)
- Joshua Giraldo (D, HD-056)
- Jenni Azanero Furtado (D, HD-064)
- Karen Alzate (D, HD-060)
- Cherie Cruz (D, HD-058)
- Julie Casimiro (D, HD-031)
- John Edwards (D, HD-070)
- Grace Diaz (D)
Latest actions
- : Committee recommended measure be held for further study
- : Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
- : Introduced, referred to House Finance
Subjects: HUMAN SERVICES
Common questions
- What is H8175?
- H8175 is a bill in the Rhode Island Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- MEDICAL ASSISTANCE (Requires Medicaid to cover services by licensed certified lactation cou.
- What does H8175 do?
- AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- MEDICAL ASSISTANCE (Requires Medicaid to cover services by licensed certified lactation counselors and EOHHS to oversee and implement the program and track related costs and use. It also ensures reimbursement consistent with similar providers.)
- What is the status of H8175?
- Failed as of May 5, 2026. Latest action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study (May 5, 2026).
- Who sponsored H8175?
- Jennifer Stewart (D, HD-059), with 9 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H8175?
- On the Rhode Island Legislature website: http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H8175.pdf
Source: official Rhode Island record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.