Gov. Gina Raimondo signed committee’s executive order to set target of 3.2 percent increases

The state of Rhode Island has pledged to limit health care spending increases, and URI College of Nursing Professor Betty Rambur played a significant role in setting the spending target.

Gov. Gina Raimondo and the Office of Health Insurance Commissioner has set a target for health care spending per capita increases not to exceed 3.2 percent annually. The executive order applies to consumers using private insurance, as well as Medicare and Medicaid. Rambur served on the steering committee that set the target.

“The goal is to decrease the rate of spending to reduce the cost to consumers,” Rambur said. “Spending on health care has far outpaced inflation. The idea is to slow the rate of increases so health care spending doesn’t cannibalize the rest of the state’s economy.”

According to the Providence Business News:

The state will cooperate with 13 Rhode Island insurers, hospital systems, trade organizations and state agencies, the leaders of which have signed the Compact to Reduce the Growth in Health Care Costs and State Health Care Spending in Rhode Island. The signatory parties are Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, Coastal Medical, Lifespan Corp., Rhode Island Foundation, The Rhode Island Parent Information Network, Care New England Health System, Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island, Rhode Island Medical Society, Rhode Island Business Group on Health, Tufts Health Plan, the Office of Health Insurance Commissioner, The Wilson Organization LLC, BankNewport, Hospital Association of Rhode Island and UnitedHealth Group Inc.