Op-Ed: Rhode Island Can Expand Health Care Access by Passing H. 7143/S. 2865

By Sen. Jessica de la Cruz and Juan Martinez

As Rhode Island families face unaffordable health care costs and limited access to timely care, state lawmakers have a clear opportunity to enact meaningful reform that prioritizes patients.

The truth is our healthcare system is burdened by outdated regulations that constrain health care supply, suppress innovation, and limit patient choice.

At the heart of this issue are the state’s “Certificate of Need” (CON) laws. CON laws are mandates that require healthcare providers to secure government approval before opening new facilities, expanding services, or buying major medical equipment.

Originally, these laws were intended to control costs and coordinate care, but sadly, in practice they have become barriers that slow progress and protect existing providers from competition. When it became clear that they were not achieving their original goal of reducing healthcare costs, the federal government promptly repealed the original mandate. Since the 1980s, eight presidential administrations have called for the repeal of CON laws.

Today, providers must prove to regulators that a proposed service is truly “needed” before moving forward. This process can drag on for months, or even years, requiring extensive paperwork, legal resources, and regulatory review. Often, existing providers can challenge new proposals, causing additional delays and discouraging investment. Instead of fostering growth, the system keeps it artificially constrained.

The consequences are felt most by patients. When providers face obstacles to expanding services or entering the market, options shrink. Families encounter longer wait times, reduced access to specialized care, and higher costs. For working families, especially those in underserved or rural communities, these hurdles can mean the difference between receiving timely care and going without it. Elderly patients or those with chronic conditions are particularly vulnerable, often forced to travel long distances or delay necessary treatments.

Originally posted on Center Square Rhode Island