A Champion For RI’s Most Vulnerable
Friend,
JOSHUA MILLER
A central part of our mission as public servants is working to support and protect the most vulnerable members of our communities. In the Senate, we are fortunate to have a team of compassionate, dedicated, and extraordinarily capable leaders who devote themselves tirelessly to taking on the challenges facing Rhode Islanders.
Senate Health & Human Services Committee Chairman Joshua Miller is one of these champions. He has distinguished himself on numerous issues during his time in the Senate, but his work on public health, substance abuse, and mental health truly stands out.
Recently, the Senate has approved several important pieces of legislation Chairman Miller has advanced related to these policy areas.
This week, we approved a bill that would allow emergency medical services to transport a patient to facilities other than hospital emergency departments – including behavioral health centers, community health clinics, urgent care facilities, or the offices of primary care providers – based on that patient’s individual needs.
As the law currently stands, EMS providers typically do not receive reimbursement for their services unless patients are taken to a hospital emergency department, despite the fact that other treatment venues may be more appropriate – especially for those struggling with addiction or mental health issues.
The legislation passed this week is especially important as our state prepares for the opening of certified community behavioral health clinics, or CCBHCs, which offer a range of mental health and substance use services.
This is just one of the steps Chairman Miller and the Senate have taken in recent weeks toward more effective, accessible treatment and improved outcomes. We have approved the Chairman’s proposals aimed at improving treatment for those with substance use and mental health disorders. We also passed a bill that would create a program utilizing Medicaid to house and assist people experiencing homelessness, and a proposal to provide the Department of Health with more information about overdose deaths in an effort to improve prevention.
Chairman Miller’s recent work has extended into other areas of health care as well. The Senate recently approved his proposal to codify Affordable Care Act consumer protections in state law, as well as his legislation to provide a special Medicare Part B enrollment period in light of the expiration of the federal pandemic public health emergency.
Those of us entrusted with holding public office have a unique opportunity to make the lives of our fellow citizens better. Chairman Miller, through his diligent efforts, has done just that. We are proud to be his colleagues, and we thank him for being a true champion for Rhode Island’s most vulnerable residents.
Sincerely,
Donny and Ryan