Friday, November 22, 2024
11/22/2024
The Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation (DBR) and Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner (OHIC) currently handle consumer inquiries and complaints about health insurance with extremely limited resources. Neither DBR nor OHIC has dedicated staff for health insurance consumer assistance; both rely on personnel with substantial other responsibilities who respond as their work loads permit. Because neither DBR nor OHIC are sufficiently staffed, they do not publicize their limited consumer assistance capabilities, nor do they conduct consumer education on health insurance reform or coverage. This lack of capacity is particularly troubling in light of Rhode Island???s high rate of uninsured residents. And, while there are a number of public and privately-funded programs that provide health care directly to uninsured Rhode Islanders, these programs are spread among an array of agencies making navigating available options a challenge. DBR proposes to use federal funds available
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
