13 Health-Related Bodies in the State of Rhode Island that You Should Know About

Originally posted 4/18/2016
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Rhode Island may be the smallest state, but it has numerous government bodies and organizations that work toward the goal of promoting the health and wellbeing of its population. As medical student advocates, it’s important for us to understand the context of the state where we will be training, learning, and growing into future physicians. This blog post is meant to provide short summaries of Rhode Island’s major health-related bodies. A subsequent post will explore concrete ways in which we can intersect and engage with these organizations, but for now, which state governmental bodies regulate and administer healthcare in Rhode Island?

Department of Health
Mission/Focus:
“The Rhode Island Department of Health's mission is to prevent disease and protect and promote the health and safety of the people of Rhode Island.” It wishes to “address the social and environmental determinants of health in Rhode Island... eliminate the disparities of health in Rhode Island and promote health equity... [and] ensure access to quality health services for Rhode Islanders.”
Departments: Click here to learn more about the organization’s sub-departments/offices.
Contact: 
3 Capitol Hill, Providence, RI 02908
(401) 222-5960
Email

Department of Human Services
Mission/Focus:
“The Department of Human Services (DHS) administers human service programs including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Rhode Island Works Cash Assistance Program, Child Care, General Public Assistance, State Supplemental Payments, and Child Support. DHS is also responsible for determining eligibility for the state's health-benefits programs.”
Ongoing initiatives: Click here to learn more
Contact:
Louis Pasteur Building, 57 Howard Avenue, Cranston, RI 02920
(401) 462-5300
Email

Executive Office of Health and Human Services
Mission/Focus:
“The Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) was created on December 1, 2005 to facilitate cooperation and coordination among the state departments that administer Rhode Island's health and social service programs. EOHHS is responsible for the management of Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and other publicly-funded health-care programs in Rhode Island.”
Departments:
See here for a list of the departments under the EOHHS umbrella
Ongoing Initiatives:
Click here for a list of ongoing initiatives by the EOHHS
Contact: 
74 West Road, Cranston, RI 02920 
(401) 462-5274

The Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner (OHIC)
Mission/Focus:
“The Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner is responsible for guarding the solvency of health insurers, protecting the interests of consumers, encouraging policies and developments that improve the quality and efficiency of health care service delivery and outcomes, and viewing the health care system as a comprehensive entity and encouraging and directing insurers toward policies that advance the welfare of the public through overall efficiency, improved healthcare quality, and appropriate access.”
Ongoing initiatives: Click here to learn more
Contact: 
1511 Pontiac Ave, Building #69 First Floor, Cranston, RI 02920
(401) 462-9517
Email

HealthSource RI
Mission/Focus:
HealthSource RI manages the health insurance “exchange” or marketplace that provides Rhode Islanders with (1) information about health insurance coverage and (2) the online infrastructure to register for insurance.
Resources:
https://healthyrhode.ri.gov/HIXWebI3/healthcare-resources
Contact: 
https://healthyrhode.ri.gov/HIXWebI3/healthcare-getAssistance

Department of Children, Youths, and Families (DCYF)
Mission/Focus:
DCYF believes that “the family, community and government share responsibility for the safety, protection and well-being of children through a family and child-centered wraparound model of care. When the family is unable to care for a child/youth, it is our responsibility, in as timely a manner as possible, to ensure the child/youth is provided permanency in his/her life in a safe, stable and nurturing home.” 
Departments:
Adoption
Child Welfare
Child Care
Foster Care
Contact: 
101 Friendship Street, Providence, RI 02903-3716  
(401) 528-3502

Office of the Child Advocate
Mission/Focus:
“The Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) is an independent and autonomous Rhode Island state agency responsible for protecting the legal rights and interests of children in state care.  These rights include, but are not limited to, a child’s right to appropriate placement, healthcare and education, and to be treated with dignity and respect.” 
Examples of Relevant Laws the OCA Enforces:
See here and here
Contact:
57 Howard Ave, 4th floor, Cranston, RI 02920
(401) 462-4300

Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities, and Hospitals (BHDDH)
Mission/Focus:
BHDDH administers a system of care that provides services for more than 50,000 Rhode Islanders with mental health and substance abuse issues, developmental disabilities, and chronic long-term medical and psychiatric conditions. As we continue to provide services for our most vulnerable populations, we also continue to navigate the changing landscape of healthcare reform.”
Departments:
Substance Abuse
Mental Health
Developmental Disability
Contact: 
Barry Hall, 14 Harrington Road Cranston, RI 02920
(401) 462-2339

RI Department of Corrections Health Care Services Unit
Mission/Focus:
“The Health Care Services Unit, under the direction of the Medical Program Director, incorporates medical and mental health, dental and health education. This unit provides medical and clinical services to the incarcerated offender population, both sentenced and awaiting trial in all facilities of the Rhode Island Department of Corrections (RIDOC).”
Departments:
Administration
Institutions and Operations
Rehabilitative Services
Contact: 
39 Howard Ave, Cranston, RI 02920
Phone: (401) 462-2678

RI Commission for Human Rights
Mission/Focus:
Established by The Rhode Island General Assembly, the Commission enforces the Rhode Island antidiscrimination laws in the areas of employment, housing, public accommodations, credit and delivery of services.  
Examples of Relevant Laws the Commission Enforces: Civil Rights of People with Disabilities Act; the law regarding HIV/AIDS discrimination; Expanded Employment Protections for Conditions Related to Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Related Medical Conditions
Contact:
180 Westminster Street, 3rd Floor, Providence, RI 02903
(401) 222-2661  

Office of the Governor
Mission/Focus:
Message from Gov Raimondo: “We must create conditions that will jumpstart our struggling economy, create jobs, and expand opportunity for all Rhode Islanders.”
Ongoing Health-Related Initiatives: Working Group to Reinvent Medicaid; Overdose Prevention and Intervention Task Force; Working Group for Healthcare Innovation 
Contact:
82 Smith Street, Providence, RI 02903
Phone: (401) 222-2080
Fax: (401) 222-8096
Email

Office of the Lt. Governor
Mission/Focus:
“The Lieutenant Governor is the executive officer of a state who is next in rank to a governor and who takes the governor's place in case of disability or death. His current interest areas and initiatives of Lt Gov Dan McKee include emergency management preparation, tackling issues facing small Rhode Island businesses, and coordination of long-term care for elderly populations in RI.”
News:
Click here for information regarding the Office of the Lt. Governor
Contact: 
82 Smith Street, Room 116, Providence, RI 02903
(401) 222-2371

Rhode Island Housing
Mission/Focus:
“Rhode Island Housing uses all of its resources to provide low-interest loans, grants, education and assistance to help Rhode Islanders find, rent, buy, build and keep a good home. Created by the General Assembly in 1973, Rhode Island Housing is a privately funded public purpose corporation.”
Contact: 
44 Washington Street, Providence, RI 02903 
(401) 457-1234

Post Authors: Margie Thorsen and Noah Lubin, medical students at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University and co-Coordinators for PLME Outreach and Engagement for Citizen Physicians