Order to affect Rhode Island healthcare jobs
Posted on February 6, 2019
A new order regarding healthcare growth will directly affect Rhode Island healthcare jobs.
An executive order establishing an official target for health care spending growth in Rhode Island: 3.2% annual growth through 2022. This is the latest step in the Governor’s ongoing efforts to control health care costs for taxpayers, businesses and patients.
Under Governor Raimondo’s leadership, Rhode Island has protected the Affordable Care Act and maintained one of the lowest uninsured rates in the country. Rhode Island’s individual market and small business commercial insurance premiums are among the lowest in the United States. In addition, Medicaid spending per person has decreased year over year.
“I am grateful to the community leaders who came together in a public process to commit their best efforts to address rising health costs,” said Health Insurance Commissioner Marie Ganim. “We have consensus that RI should meet a health spending target that is consistent with spending on other goods and services. Rhode Island has one of the highest rates of health insurance coverage in the country and some of the lowest premiums. We’ve made these gains by focusing on the underlying drivers of health care costs and by collaborating with consumers, employers, insurers and health care providers to fundamentally change our health care system. This health care spending growth target is another critical component of the Governor’s efforts to ensure Rhode Islanders have access to high quality, affordable health care.”
Despite efforts to keep health care costs affordable, per capita health care spending in Rhode Island has historically outpaced economic growth. With rising costs, individuals, families and businesses increasingly struggle to pay for necessary care. Publicly setting a target for growth will increase transparency and establish accountability.
“The Affordable Care Act is working in Rhode Island. Rhode Island’s healthcare insurance premiums are among the lowest in the country,” said Acting EOHHS Secretary Lisa Vura-Weis. “I am proud of the work of Commissioner Ganim and the members of the Rhode Island Health Care Cost Trends Steering Committee. This collaboration will help ensure market stability – which is key to keeping health coverage affordable for Rhode Islanders.”