Creating a Special Legislative Commission to Study Women’s Reproductive Health Across the Life Course

WHEREAS, Women experience distinct reproductive health stages across the life course, including adolescence, reproductive years, fertility and infertility, pregnancy and postpartum, perimenopause, menopause, and post-reproductive health; and

WHEREAS, These reproductive health stages involve unique medical, psychological, and social needs that significantly impact women’s overall health, workforce participation, economic stability, and quality of life; and

WHEREAS, Many reproductive health conditions remain underdiagnosed, undertreated, or inadequately understood due to gaps in public awareness, clinical training, research, and access to specialized care; and

WHEREAS, Evidence demonstrates that racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities exist in the diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes associated with women’s reproductive health conditions; and

WHEREAS, Insurance coverage limitations, cost-sharing requirements, and variability in benefits may create barriers to timely diagnosis, treatment, and management of reproductive health conditions across the life course; and

WHEREAS, A comprehensive review is necessary to evaluate the availability of clinical services, insurance coverage, education, research, public awareness, and policy supports related to women’s reproductive health across the life course; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created consisting of seventeen (17) members: two (2) of whom shall be members of the House of Representatives, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the Director of the Department of Health, or designee; one of whom shall be the Health Insurance Commissioner, or designee; one of whom shall be the President and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield Rhode Island, or designee; one of whom shall be the President and CEO of Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island, or designee; one of whom shall be a the President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, or designee; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the Latino Policy Institute, or designee; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the Women’s Fund of Rhode Island, or designee; and eight (8) of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of House, including: one physician specializing in obstetrics and gynecology, one physician or clinician specializing in reproductive endocrinology or fertility, one clinician specializing in menopause or midlife women’s health, one public health expert with expertise in women’s health from an academic institution, one individual with expertise in health disparities or health equity from a federally qualified health center, two (2) individuals from the public with lived experience related to reproductive health care or is an advocate for consumer or patient rights in reproductive health care, and one representative of the Womxn Project. That the purpose of said commission shall be to study and make recommendations concerning women’s reproductive health across the life course, including, but not limited to: • The prevalence and health impacts associated with reproductive life stages, including general gynecologic health, fertility and infertility, pregnancy and postpartum care, perimenopause, menopause, and post-reproductive health; • The availability of clinical services, specialists, and resources to support women at each reproductive life stage, including geographic distribution and workforce capacity; • The adequacy of public and private insurance coverage, including Medicaid and commercial insurance, for reproductive health services, treatments, and conditions across the life course; • Racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in diagnosis, treatment, access to care, and health outcomes related to women’s reproductive health; • Public awareness, educational resources, and provider training related to reproductive health conditions and life stages; • Existing research, data collection, and gaps in knowledge related to women’s reproductive health across the life course; and • Legislative, regulatory, and policy measures necessary to improve access to care, early diagnosis, treatment, insurance coverage, education, public awareness, and health outcomes for women. Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at the call of Speaker of the House and shall organize and select a chairperson from among the legislators. Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment. The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services. All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information, documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution. The Speaker of the House is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters for said commission; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the House of Representatives on or before March 2, 2027, and said commission shall expire on May 2, 2027. EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF HOUSERESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY WOMEN’S REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH ACROSS THE LIFE COURSE *** This resolution would create a seventeen (17) member special legislative commission to study women’s reproductive health across the life course, and who would report back to the House on or before March 2, 2027, and said commission would expire on May 2, 2027.