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H 7059Funding & Budget

H7059 - Rhode Island 2026

Appropriates $100,000 to the RI Office of Healthy Aging to support the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program in addressing a surge in resident complaints.

Held for study
Population
Affected
35
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Introduced Jan 9, 2026Committee House Finance

Plain-English Summary

This resolution authorizes a $100,000 appropriation from the state treasury to the Rhode Island Office of Healthy Aging for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The funds are specifically designated for the Alliance for Better Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, which operates as an independent body to assist elderly individuals and people with disabilities receiving long-term care services across the state. The program advocates on behalf of residents in 76 licensed nursing facilities, 65 assisted living residences, the Bristol Veterans' Home, and the Eleanor Slater Hospital.

The legislative text highlights a severe and rapid increase in the program's workload over recent years. According to the resolution, the number of complaints received by the Ombudsman has more than tripled, jumping from 597 in 2023 to 1,787 in 2025. Alarmingly, 30 percent of the 2025 complaints relate to abuse, gross neglect, and exploitation, while another 22 percent relate to general care issues.

Because combined federal and state funding has not kept pace with inflation or this surging caseload, vulnerable long-term care residents are at an increased risk of experiencing poor quality of care or having their rights infringed. This $100,000 appropriation aims to bridge that funding gap, ensuring the Ombudsman program has the resources necessary to investigate grievances, mediate disputes, and effectively advocate for the health, safety, and rights of Rhode Island's long-term care population.

For younger readers

This bill gives $100,000 to a state program that helps protect elderly people and people with disabilities who live in nursing homes. The program has been getting a lot more complaints about bad care and abuse lately. This money will help them investigate those complaints and keep residents safe.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
Elderly residents in long-term careIndividuals with disabilities in long-term careNursing home and assisted living operatorsAlliance for Better Long-Term Care staffFamilies of long-term care residents
Impacted communities
Bristol

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

Low. This is a standard legislative appropriation of funds to an existing state-administered program.

Estimated cost
$100,000
Estimated revenue
Not specified

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Increases funding for a vital social safety net program that protects vulnerable populations.
  • Directly addresses rising rates of abuse, neglect, and exploitation in long-term care facilities.
  • Strengthens independent oversight of healthcare and nursing facilities to ensure patient rights are respected.
  • $100,000 may not be enough to fully address a workload that has tripled in just two years.
  • Does not address the systemic root causes of the staffing and care quality crises in nursing homes.
  • Relies on a one-time appropriation rather than establishing a permanent, inflation-adjusted funding stream.
For Conservatives
  • Protects vulnerable seniors and veterans (specifically residents of the Bristol Veterans' Home) from abuse and fraud.
  • Ensures accountability and quality of care in facilities that receive significant taxpayer funding through Medicare and Medicaid.
  • Represents a relatively small, targeted appropriation to address a specific, documented problem rather than creating a massive new entitlement program.
  • Increases state spending and expands the budget for a government-funded agency.
  • Could lead to increased regulatory burdens, administrative actions, and compliance costs for private nursing facilities.
  • Uses general treasury funds to supplement a program that already receives federal funding.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

WHEREAS, The federal Older Americans Act (OAA) requires every state to have an Ombudsman Program that addresses complaints, protects resident rights and advocates for improvements in the long-term care system, and in 1995, Rhode Island passed a law to establish the state long-term care ombudsman program; and

WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman operates as an independent body whose purpose is to assist elders and individuals with disabilities receiving long-term care services; and

WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman is administered by the RI Office of Healthy Aging through a contract with the Alliance for Better Long-Term Care using a combination of federal and state funds; and

WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman advocates on behalf of residents of the State’s 76 licensed nursing facilities with 8,405 beds, 65 assisted living residences with 5,209 units, and residents of the Bristol Veterans’ Home and the Eleanor Slater Hospital; and

WHEREAS, Many residents of these facilities have chronic conditions, need assistance with daily living tasks, and may feel isolated and often face unmet needs; and

WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman's responsibilities include identifying, investigating and resolving through mediation, negotiation, and administrative action, complaints filed by residents or individuals acting on their behalf, as well as representing resident interests before government agencies, reviewing and commenting as appropriate on laws, regulations and policies relating to the rights and well-being or residents of facilities, and providing information to residents and the public; and

WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Department of Health surveys have found an increase in serious deficiencies in nursing facility care over the last several years, and assisted living residents have higher care needs than in the past; and

WHEREAS, There has been a significant increase in the workload of the RI Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman with the number of complaints received more than tripling going from 597 in 2023, to 1,787 to date in 2025, with 30 percent of the 2025 complaints relating to abuse, gross neglect and exploitation; and percent relating to care issues; and

WHEREAS, Combined federal and state funding to operate the RI Office of the Long- Term Care Ombudsman has not increased to reflect inflation or the increased workload leaving vulnerable long-term care residents at risk for poorer quality of care or infringement of their rights; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2026-2027, the sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) to the Rhode Island Office of Healthy Aging for the Alliance for Better Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program; and the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw their orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of said sum, or so much thereof as may be from time to time required, upon receipt of properly authenticated vouchers. EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF JOINTRESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $100,0 TO THE RHODE ISLAND OFFICE OF HEALTHY AGING FOR THE ALLIANCE FOR BETTER LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM *** This resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of $100,000 to the Rhode Island Office Of Healthy Aging for the RI Long-Term Care Ombudsman program.