Save Our Healthcare System. Protect Our Patients.
Increase funding for Medicaid.
We all can see the healthcare crisis in Rhode Island. Patients can’t find primary care doctors, emergency departments are overcrowded, and hospitals and physician practices are financially strained. Clinicians are leaving or avoiding Rhode Island for better paying jobs elsewhere.
This is largely because Rhode Island’s Medicaid program pays healthcare providers far less than what it costs to care for Medicaid patients, and significantly less than neighboring states—up to 40 percent lower for some common procedures.
Examples of Differences in Medicaid Payments
(Rhode Island vs. Massachusetts)
| Primary care visit | ~29% lower in Rhode Island |
| Psychotherapy session | ~36% lower in Rhode Island |
| Colonoscopy | ~32% lower in Rhode Island |
| Brain MRI | ~32% lower in Rhode Island |
| CT of the head | ~28% lower in Rhode Island |
| ED visit | 20–40% lower in Rhode Island |
Why This Matters for All of Us
At Brown University Health, we lost nearly $208 million over the past three years caring for Rhode Islanders enrolled in Medicaid. Hospitals absorb most of these losses, and that makes healthcare more expensive for everyone.
This disparity threatens the sustainability of our healthcare system, as costs for supplies and technology continue to rise at hospitals. It forces healthcare organizations across the state to reduce services, lay off employees, or even go out of business. Doctors and clinicians avoid or leave jobs in Rhode Island, choosing states with better Medicaid reimbursement where organizations offer more competitive salaries.
Medicaid covers one third of all Rhode Islanders. This is a matter of health equity – we are paid the least to care for those who need care the most. Our talented physicians, nurses, and staff all deserve better. Our patients and communities deserve better.
Without action from the state, patients will have a harder time accessing care – hurting children, low-income and disadvantaged communities the most.
The Rhode Island legislature can save our healthcare system, protect care and lower costs for everyone by increasing funding for Medicaid.
We cannot fix healthcare without fixing Medicaid.
How You Can Help
1. Send letters and email to your elected officials.
For Rhode Island residents contacting their Rhode Island state legislators:
Once there:
- Provide your name and address information
- Your legislators will auto-populate based on your address
- Click Send!
You can also download the letter template below.
(Word document for editing): Sustainability of Rhode Island's Healthcare System
2. Print, post, and share our infographic.
Download the Infographic (PDF)
3. Work with our communications team to speak with media, contribute op-eds, and letters to the editor.
Contact [email protected] for more information and to participate.
4. Share our message with colleagues, family, friends, and on social media.
The Rhode Island legislature can save our healthcare system by increasing funding for Medicaid. But we need all the support we can get from our talented workforce, speaking out as a unified voice to call for and inspire action.