Woonsocket Radio News Room

 

Senate OKs bill seeking to create new state
Department of Hospitals

 

STATE HOUSE – The Senate today approved legislation sponsored by Senate Health and Human Services Committee Chairman Joshua Miller to develop a plan to move the purview of state hospitals out of the Department of Behavior Healthcare, Development Disabilities and Hospitals (BHDDH) into a separate Department of Hospitals.

The legislation (2024-S 2075A) directs the secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS)  to present plan for the realignment of state hospitals into a Department of Hospitals to the to the General Assembly by Sept. 1.

Creating a stand-alone department for hospitals was a recommendation of a commission that Chairman Miller led in 2021 and 2022 to study and recommend improvements for the governance structure and effective administration of health and human services in Rhode Island.

“The role of managing hospitals is very different from BHDDH’s other health and human services responsibilities. Separating hospitals into their own department would enable both agencies to sharpen their focus and better support all of the programs they administer and oversee. Our goal is more effective use of our health care resources so Rhode Islanders have the best access possible to all the care they need,” said Chairman Miller (D-Dist. 28, Cranston, Providence).

Chairman Miller worked with the EOHHS on the bill, and he noted that the timeline included in the bill is intentionally swift, with the hope of implementing the creation of the new department soon.

The legislation now goes to the House of Representatives, where Rep. Tina L. Spears (D-Dist. 36, Charlestown, New Shoreham, South Kingstown, Westerly) is sponsoring companion legislation (2024-H 7180).

 

 

The FBI is confirming former President Trump was hit by a bullet at his Pennsylvania rally nearly two weeks ago. In a statement Friday, the agency said, "What struck former President Trump in the ear was a bullet, whether whole or fragmented into smaller pieces." Trump and his allies had pushed back on FBI Director Christopher Way's testimony to Congress earlier this week when he said it was not clear if a bullet or shrapnel had struck Trump's ear.       Vice President Harris is receiving the endorsement of Barack and Michelle Obama in the Democratic race for president. The former president and first lady released a video this morning showing Vice President Harris speaking on the phone with both of them. In a joint statement announcing the endorsement, the Obamas said, "There is no doubt in our mind that Kamala Harris has exactly what it takes to win this election and deliver for the American people."       The Olympic flame is burning bright as the Summer Games are now officially open. The Opening Ceremony was held on the River Seine in Paris with hundreds of thousands of fans lined up to welcome athletes from around the world, including the more than 500 representing Team USA. LeBron James and Coco Gauff served as flagbearers for the U.S.        Airlines are preparing for the "revenge travel" boom to end, cutting ticket prices to fill seats amidst a more uncertain outlook. That's a sharp turnaround from a period of high air fares, when passengers were desperate to travel anywhere and airlines suffered from a shortage of planes. The cracks have largely come on shorter routes in the U.S. and Europe and in economy class, with more expensive seats in business and first class less affected.       The NBA is facing a lawsuit from Warner Bros. Discovery over its rejected television rights deal. The media company alleges the league breached its contracted when it chose to accept Amazon's bid instead of the one from W-B-D. TNT has aired NBA games since 1989 and is home to popular "Inside the NBA" studio show with Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson.        A new cereal mix combining three of Travis and Jason Kelce's childhood favorites is in the works. The Kelce brothers are partnering with General Mills to release the 'Kelce Mix Cereal,' which combines Reese's Puffs, Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Lucky Charms and will hit shelves in September. The two mentioned the trio of General Mills cereals when they agreed on their favorite cereals on an episode of their New Heights podcast last December.       

Old News Archives