Rhode Island Appropriations Bill For 2016 (H 5900)

H 5900 would set the budget for the Rhode Island government through June 30, 2016.

Buried in the budget bill, under the section covering the health benefit exchange, legislators managed to sneak in anti-choice measures.

Under Article 18 of the budget bill, health insurance exchanges must offer at least one plan that excludes coverage for abortion services. If a plan excludes abortion coverage due to religious exemption, they must provide notice to prospective enrollees prior to enrollment.

STATUS

Previous attempts at passing this measure all failed on their own:

• S 1038, H 6300, and H 6301 (2013)
• S 573 and H 5784 (2015)

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