Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island is pleased to take a leadership role in supporting the state’s first-ever efforts to slow the growth of medical spending in Rhode Island and applauds the governor for affirming this work by signing an Executive Order.

In August 2018 the Rhode Island Health Care Cost Trends Steering Committee was convened by Governor Raimondo, the Executive Office of Health and Human Services and the Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner. To address the historic rise in medical spending in our state, my co-chairs, President and CEO of Coastal Medical Dr. Al Kurose and Health Insurance Commissioner Marie Ganim, and I have led a thorough and rigorous process to establish Rhode Island’s first medical expenditure growth target.

In December, members of the steering committee signed the “Compact to Reduce the Growth in Health Care Costs and State Health Care Spending in Rhode Island.”  This is the first time entities from across the healthcare spectrum in Rhode Island have entered into this type of progressive agreement, acknowledging that the time to act is now.

Blue Cross is happy to be a leader in these efforts, which position Rhode Island at the forefront of a critical national issue, as only two other states have set medical spending goals. The 3.2 percent target will stem what has become an unsustainable rise in costs, allowing the state to spend on other key priorities critical to Rhode Island’s economic vitality.

Blue Cross is firmly committed to leading policy efforts that will drive a state of health and well-being across Rhode Island.