Bill > S2110

This bill establishes a Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund to provide financial assistance to families in Rhode Island for medical expenses of children aged 21 and younger that are not covered by other state or federal programs or insurance. A nine-member commission, composed of state agency directors and appointed public members, will administer the fund and establish a program to determine eligibility and process applications. "Catastrophic illness" is defined as an illness where medical expenses exceed a certain percentage of a family's income, with specific thresholds based on income levels. The fund will be financed by a $1.50 annual surcharge per employee on employers subject to employment security laws, collected by the Department of Labor and Training and deposited into the fund. The commission will have the power to set reimbursement amounts based on a family's ability to pay, investigate claims, and report annually to the governor and legislature on the program's status. The act will become effective upon its passage.

Health and Social Services

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