H 8417Funding & Budget

Making an Appropriation of $500,000 to Thrive Behavioral Health, Inc. to Support the Hillsgrove Clubhouse Program

Appropriates $500,000 to Thrive Behavioral Health, Inc. to support the Hillsgrove Clubhouse Program for individuals with serious mental illness.

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Introduced Apr 8, 2026Committee House Finance

Plain-English Summary

This joint resolution authorizes a $500,000 appropriation from the Rhode Island state treasury for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to Thrive Behavioral Health, Inc. The funds are specifically designated to support the operation and expansion of the Hillsgrove Clubhouse Program, a community-based psychiatric rehabilitation center located in Warwick, Rhode Island. This program is noted as the only accredited facility of its kind in the state, making it a unique and essential component of Rhode Island's behavioral health continuum of care.

The Hillsgrove Clubhouse Program currently serves over 165 individuals statewide who live with serious mental illness. It utilizes an internationally recognized, evidence-based clubhouse model that promotes long-term recovery through peer engagement, meaningful work, education, and housing stability. This emergency funding request follows a recent notice from the Executive Office of Health and Human Services indicating that the program can no longer bill the State Medicaid Program for its services. Because no alternative billing mechanisms were provided, the program's financial status was left in severe jeopardy.

The Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities, and Hospitals (BHDDH) is directed to disburse the appropriated funds to the organization. The resolution emphasizes that investing in community-based behavioral health programs is fiscally responsible, as it reduces reliance on higher-cost services like hospitalization and emergency care, while significantly improving the quality of life for Rhode Island residents.

For younger readers

This bill gives $500,000 to a program in Rhode Island called the Hillsgrove Clubhouse. This program helps adults with mental illness find jobs, make friends, and live healthy lives. The money is needed because the program recently lost some of its regular funding from the state.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

Individuals with serious mental illnessThrive Behavioral Health, Inc. staff and managementRhode Island taxpayersDepartment of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities, and Hospitals (BHDDH)

Impacted communities

Warwick

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

Low. The legislature has the standard constitutional authority to appropriate funds from the general treasury for public purposes.

Estimated cost

$500,000

Estimated revenue

Not specified

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Supports a highly vulnerable population of individuals living with serious mental illness.
Funds community-based healthcare, which is often more humane, effective, and integrated than institutionalization.
Prevents a vital and unique social service program from closing due to bureaucratic Medicaid billing changes.
Provides a one-time funding fix rather than a systemic solution to the Medicaid billing issue.
Does not address the underlying reasons why the Executive Office of Health and Human Services cut off Medicaid billing for these services.

For Conservatives

Reduces long-term state costs by preventing expensive emergency room visits and hospitalizations.
Promotes employment, education, and self-sufficiency for individuals with mental illness.
Utilizes an evidence-based model, ensuring taxpayer funds are spent on proven, effective methods.
Increases state spending by $500,000 outside of the standard departmental budget process.
Directs taxpayer money to a specific private non-profit organization.
Bails out a program that lost its Medicaid billing eligibility, potentially ignoring underlying compliance or structural issues.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

WHEREAS, Thrive Behavioral Health, Inc. operates the Hillsgrove Clubhouse Program in Warwick, Rhode Island, a community-based psychiatric rehabilitation program serving individuals living with serious mental illness; and

WHEREAS, The Hillsgrove Clubhouse utilizes the internationally recognized, evidenced-based, clubhouse model, which supports recovery through meaningful work, peer engagement, and community integration; and

WHEREAS, The Hillsgrove Clubhouse Program is the only accredited program of its kind in the State of Rhode Island, providing a unique and essential component of the state’s behavioral health continuum of care; and

WHEREAS, The program serves more than one hundred sixty-five (165) individuals statewide, offering services that promote employment, education, housing stability, and long-term recovery outcomes; and

WHEREAS, Thrive Behavioral Health, Inc., recently received notice from the Executive Office of Health and Human Services that it can no longer bill the State Medicaid Program for services provided within the Hillsgrove Clubhouse Program and said notice did not include any alternative billing mechanisms leaving the Program’s status in financial jeopardy

WHEREAS, Investment in community-based behavioral health programs reduces reliance on higher-cost services, including hospitalization and emergency care, while improving quality of life for Rhode Island residents; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2026-2027, the sum of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000); that the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities, and hospitals (BHDDH) is hereby authorized and directed to disburse these funds to Thrive Behavioral Health, Inc. to support the operation and expansion of the Hillsgrove Clubhouse Program; and that the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of said sum. EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF JOINTRESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $500,0 TO THRIVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, INC. TO SUPPORT THE HILLSGROVE CLUBHOUSE PROGRAM *** This resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) to Thrive Behavioral Health, Inc. to support the Hillsgrove Clubhouse Program.