The 2024 legislative session marked a watershed moment in securing long overdue funding to address the mental health and substance use challenges of all Rhode Islanders, particularly the most vulnerable and underserved populations. Numerous legislative champions stood up and together passed key bills and rate increases that will transform Rhode Island’s behavioral health system.
Leading this charge was Rhode Island’s Speaker of the House of Representatives, Joseph Shekarchi. He addressed decades of underfunding by not only advocating rate increases but by backing initiatives that will support the system of behavioral health care for years to come. He did not do this alone; our Newport County legislators rallied behind Speaker Shekarchi and Senator Dominick Ruggerio, President of the Senate, to pass these initiatives.
Newport County is very fortunate to have a well-informed, influential, hard-working group of state legislators to get things done. Having the Chair of the House Finance Committee, Representative Marvin Abney, and Senate Committee on Finance Chair, Senator Louis DiPalma, providing key leadership in support of Newport County (and the entire State) is something we are very thankful for. Without their deep understanding of the importance of mental health, the huge steps forward could not have been achieved. House Finance Committee member Representative Terri Cortvriend, and Senate Health and Human Services Committee member Senator Linda L. Ujifusa, our hardworking Portsmouth legislative duo, and Representative Lauren Carson (Newport), also played vital roles.
Here are some of the key wins:
Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) – Secretary of Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services Richard Charest and Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities & Hospitals (BHDDH) Director Richard LeClerc championed legislation that led to the approval of $79.2 million dollars in the 2024-25 state budget to fund eight CCBHCs across the state to provide same-day mental health and substance services to everyone, regardless of the ability to pay or insurance type.
Behavioral Health Rate Reform - Last year, the legislature commissioned the Office of the Healthcare Insurance Commissioner (OHIC) to review the rates paid by Rhode Island Medicaid for mental health and substance use services, which not been increased in decades. This chronic underfunding was a key reason for a lack of providers and in consequence, long waiting lists for care and a shortage of high-quality care. New rates were presented, and an early draft of the Governor’s budget proposed spreading the increase over three years, a delay that would have caused many safety net providers to close services. Our legislative champions said “no” and approved the new OHIC rate increases fully this year. (Next year, we’ll be supporting a bill that requires these new Medicaid rates to be a rate floor for what commercial insurers pay behavioral health providers.)
988 Funding - 988 is the State’s number to call when someone is in behavioral health crisis. Rhode Island’s Senator Jack Reed championed the legislation to establish 988 nationally but is still working to get federal funding to sustain this lifesaving initiative. Our legislature funded 988 with one time-funding for this year. Next year, we hope that that the surplus money generated by the cell phone tax that funds 911 can be used to support 988 while our federal delegation continues to secure federal funding.
Department of Children and Families (DCYF) - The legislature added $20 million dollars to the DCYF budget to support contracted services for our most vulnerable children. DCYF is the agency responsible for children’s mental health in Rhode Island and has also been grossly under-supported.
Our state legislators listened to the advocates, volunteers, and families who spent countless hours sharing their personal stories to educate policy leaders on the importance of addressing the behavioral health crisis in Rhode Island. They drove home the intrinsic point that you can’t have healthcare without behavioral health. This success would not have happened without their voices.
During my ten years of advocating for mental health issues, I’ve seen our state legislators and elected leaders become highly educated and engaged around the need for high-quality and accessible behavioral health services. Not only will lives be saved, and Rhode Islanders live happier and more productive lives, but these investments in community-based treatment will save money by getting people healthier and thereby reducing high-cost hospital admissions. A big thank you too all!
In addition, a big shout out to the Governor for vetoing the legislation to legalize Kratom, which is another harmful drug of abuse that can result in overdose and addiction.
To the patients, clients, friends, and families connected to Newport Mental Health, we promise we will continue to strive, and never yield, in the fight for your rights to accessible and affordable quality care. Thank you, everyone for a job well done, and the part you played to make this year’s successes a reality.
Newport Mental Health is a 501(c)3, charitable nonprofit and a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic that provides mental health and substance use treatment to those who live, work, and study in Newport County, regardless of their income, insurance status, or ability to pay. Newport Mental Health offers programs and services for children and adults; immediate access to care is available by calling 401-846-1213. newportmentalhealth.org
Jamie Lehane is Chief Strategy Officer for Newport Mental Health in Middletown. Peace of Mind, which is co-written with Kristan McClintock, runs in the Newport Daily News and online at newportri.com.
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