Rep Hopkins: 2026 H7427 - The Primary Care Preservation Act - House Corporations (41426)

On April 14, 2026, Representative Marie Hopkins (R District 21 - Warwick) presented 2026 House Bill 7427, the Primary Care Preservation Act, before the House Committee on Corporations.

In her testimony, Rep. Hopkins addresses the severe primary care crisis in Rhode Island, driven by low insurance reimbursement rates and excessive bureaucratic red tape. She warns of the growing trend of doctors moving to neighboring states, retiring early, or shifting to "concierge medicine" models, which drastically reduces patient access to care. This legislation aims to protect independent practices by allowing primary care physicians to reasonably charge for uncovered administrative and "back of the house" services—similar to hospital facility fees—injecting necessary revenue to keep their doors open and ensure continued healthcare access for Rhode Islanders.

House Bill No. 7427
BY Hopkins, Brien, Casimiro, Perez, Nardone, Fascia, Read, Chippendale, Place, Paplauskas
ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- THE PRIMARY CARE PRESERVATION ACT (Prohibits health insurance companies or other payors from including in physician participation agreements any provisions that restrict or prevent a physician from charging patients reasonable administrative or operational fees to support overhead.)
{LC3921/1}
» http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7427.pdf

State Representative Marie A. Hopkins
» https://www.rihousegop.org/rephopkins.html

Rhode Island House Republicans
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