Latest news with #RhodeIslandDepartmentofHealth
Boston Globe
07-07-2025
- Health
- Boston Globe
How R.I.'s new state health lab will be more ‘flexible, adaptable, and responsive to emerging threats'
Q. For folks who are unaware, what does the Rhode Island State Health Laboratory do? Gallagher: Rhode Islanders are affected every day by the work of [the Rhode Island Department of Health] State Health Laboratories. We help ensure the health and safety of the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink. The lab supports law enforcement in their investigations; promotes public safety; helps determine exposure to environmental toxins like lead and chemicals like Get Rhode Island News Alerts Sign up to get breaking news and interesting stories from Rhode Island in your inbox each weekday. Enter Email Sign Up The State Health Laboratories also provide testing services not available anywhere else in the state, like rabies testing and arbovirus testing of mosquitoes. Advertisement How does the new lab space change lab operations? What will you be able to do that you can't do at the current facility? What will be improved at the new lab? This new, state-of-the-art facility will allow RIDOH to be more flexible, adaptable, and responsive to emerging threats. The new facility will also allow better data management in updated information technology networks, more space for new instrumentation, and space designed for workflow optimization. Advertisement One particular area of growth will involve pathogen genomic sequencing, which is a process that allows us to understand a pathogen's genetic makeup. This has the potential to revolutionize how we monitor and treat infectious diseases and investigate crimes. We started this work during the COVID-19 pandemic, and now we will be at the cutting edge of this field with this facility. When you say revolutionize, what do you mean? And what about the lab will be cutting edge for pathogen genomic sequencing? For a long time, scientists in our field were focused on determining the presence or absence of an organism. Over the last five to 10 years, genomic sequencing has opened up a whole new world. Now, in addition to determining the presence or absence of an organism, we're learning about what types of treatments it would be resistant to, whether it's related to other clusters of pathogens, and how to best develop countermeasures, like vaccines. People talk about genomic sequencing as revolutionary because it's allowing us to get out ahead of public health threats like never before. The new State Health Laboratories will have expanded capacity for genomic sequencing. Rhode Island Dept of Health Lab Director Dr. Glen Gallaher, left, and RI Governor Dan McKee, right, spoke before the media toured the new Rhode Island State Laboratories last month in downtown Providence. John Tlumacki/Globe Staff The new building will house the new state laboratory, as well as , the quasi-public agency working to lure biotech companies to the state. The building, when complete, will also join . How may the state laboratory leverage that location for future collaboration? Are there research partnerships to be made with your new neighbors? Advertisement At our new location, we look forward to building out some of our existing relationships with academic researchers at institutes of higher education and industry labs. We already work with Brown University and the University of Rhode Island on shared interests to better leverage the data generated by our laboratory. We're hoping that this can extend to more practical, shared collaboration in the new space. One area of potential benefit could be for startups looking to field test new equipment and generate the data needed to drive the adoption of new devices and new technologies. Will the Health Department seek partnerships with start ups? We're always looking to explore new collaborations with people and entities that can help us better serve Rhode Islanders. The state health laboratory began testing wastewater during the COVID pandemic, and wastewater testing will now have a dedicated area in the new lab building. How does the laboratory decide which new initiatives to pursue? Does the lab have plans to expand its capabilities at all in the coming years? We test for the presence of some pathogens in our environment in response to national clinical and public health trends. We also set priorities based on the specific needs of our local partners, like health care providers, public health practitioners, hospitals, community organizations, and others. The foundational technological capacity we have in wastewater testing certainly presents us with opportunities to expand for additional pathogen testing in the future. How will Rhode Islanders feel the impact of this new lab space? The improvements we'll be able to make at the new facility with our new instrumentation will, in some cases, mean results provided to our partners and the public more quickly. Advertisement And the people who use our testing services will feel an impact as well. With the new facility, we are moving toward more digital systems for test requests, receiving results, and payment for services. These enhancements will make the experience of accessing our testing services much easier. With other workflow improvements, results will generally be available much sooner as well. The Boston Globe's weekly Ocean State Innovators column features a Q&A with Rhode Island innovators who are starting new businesses and nonprofits, conducting groundbreaking research, and reshaping the state's economy. Send tips and suggestions to reporter Alexa Gagosz at . Christopher Gavin can be reached at
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
R.I. overdose deaths decline for second year in a row
Publicly-accessible Boxes containing Naloxone, an opioid reversal drug also known by the brand name Narcan, line up outside the East Bay Recovery Center in Warren. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) Rhode Island saw its lowest number of fatal drug overdoses since 2020, according to health department data presented to the Governor's Overdose Task Force on Wednesday. 'This is a sign of hope,' Gov. Dan McKee said in a statement Wednesday. 'We know there is still much work ahead, but the steps we are taking are saving lives.' This is the second year in a row that overdose deaths have dropped. There were 329 Rhode Islanders who died from overdoses in 2024, representing an 18.6% decrease from 2023, and a 25% drop compared to 2022. That means the state is well on its way to achieving its goal of a 30% reduction for 2030. The goal was set in 2022, the year a total of 436 people died of drug overdoses. The 2024 data demonstrated another longstanding trend now broken: For the first time since 2013, cocaine-related deaths were implicated in 61% of fatal overdoses, surpassing the 57% of deaths associated with fentanyl. All opioid-related overdoses, in fact, fell from 85% the previous year to 69% in 2024. But more than one substance can contribute to an overdose, so distinguishing the role of cocaine or fentanyl in a death is not so neatly accomplished. A large portion of overdoses — 118 in all — involved both substances being used in tandem in 2024. About three in five people who died from cocaine also had fentanyl in their system. The annual overdose data is compiled and interpreted by the Rhode Island Department of Health's (RIDOH) Substance Use Epidemiology Program, which finished reviewing the 2024 results last week, according to Joseph Wendelken, a department spokesperson. The data is largely based on autopsy and toxicology findings from the Office of the State Medical Examiners. Personal medical history also informs the coroners' findings. The data does not include deaths with undetermined causes. 'Though decline is encouraging, this is still an incredible loss in our community,' Heidi Weidele, the health department's lead fatal overdose epidemiologist, told the task force Wednesday during her presentation on the data. The scale of loss did not affect all people equally: 70% of overdose deaths in 2024 were men, a number consistent with recent years. Similarly, people ages 45 to 54 were the largest age-based cohort of overdose deaths, followed by people ages 55 to 64. By race, non-Hispanic white Rhode Islanders comprised the largest share of overdoses at 73%, even though they were also most likely to have a history of substance use treatment. Most of the state's overdoses were concentrated in urban areas, with Woonsocket, Providence and Pawtucket reporting the highest numbers. Though decline is encouraging, this is still an incredible loss in our community. – Heidi Weidele, lead fatal overdose epidemiologist, Rhode Island Department of Health Weidele said the deceased most commonly worked in 'natural resources, construction, maintenance, and service occupations, which is similar to what we've seen in past years,' she told the task force. 'And service occupations would be things like health care support, law enforcement, food preparation, grounds maintenance, and personal care.' Other statistics from the report painted a grim picture of the deceased leading up to final moments: Most never sought substance use treatment, or received medical treatment for a previous overdose. Eight out of 10 died in private, in a home, garage or camper. Most overdosed alone, with no bystander present in 60% of cases. The availability of lethal drugs has also influenced overdose trends over the years. In 2009, prescription drugs accounted for 62% of overdose deaths. By 2020, prescription drugs accounted for only 9% of fatal overdoses, while illicit drugs like fentanyl and cocaine comprised 72% of overdose deaths. In 2024, the state actually saw 34% of deaths attributed to combinations of illicit and prescription drugs combined — the highest percentage since at least 2009. A few uncommon culprits in overdose deaths were still marked as 'substances of concern' by the state health department. These included novel benzodiazepines, tranquilizers which belong to the much broader category of research chemicals — substances derived from or chemically very similar to legal and regulated drugs. In this case, novel benzodiazepines like clonazolam — about two-and-a-half-times stronger than Xanax — accounted for nine fatalities in 2024. Brown University researcher: Street drugs are getting more potent and more mysterious Xylazine, a veterinary anesthetic increasingly being used to cut street-sourced opioids, was another rogue substance that continued to impact overdose data in 2024. It was involved in 37% of opioid-related deaths. 'Every single overdose death is preventable,' Health Department Director Dr. Jerry Larkin said in a statement Wednesday. 'Recovery is within reach for every person living with the disease of addiction.' McKee strengthened the Overdose Task Force — a coalition of more than 150 members divvied up into nine workgroups — in 2022 via an executive order, hoping to ensure a sustained state response to the opioid overdose crisis. Among the initiatives it steers are determining how to dispense opioid settlement funds, naloxone distribution networks, peer outreach, and recovery support and public awareness campaigns. Earlier this year, Rhode Island also opened the nation's first state-regulated harm reduction site at Project Weber/RENEW in south Providence, where people can use drugs and receive medical attention in the event of an overdose. Despite a fierce floor debate in the Rhode Island House of Representatives, legislation to extend the injection site's pilot authorization was extended by the General Assembly and later signed into law by McKee on June 6. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
McKee signs four pairs of bills into law
Automatic external defibrillators will now be required on golf courses as a result of a new law named for a Johnston golfer who died after having a heart attack on the 18th hole at the Cranston Country Club in 2023. (Getty image) Four new laws signed on June 6 by Gov. Dan McKee aim to improve emergency care for heart attacks on golf courses, train lifeguards and park rangers to administer Narcan, extend the trial period for the state's safe injection site in Providence, and formalize the waiting period before adults with drivers permits can take their road test. Here's a look at the legislation behind the four new laws: 1. Automatic external defibrillators will now be required on golf courses as a result of the David Casey Act. Its namesake is a Johnston golfer who died after having a heart attack on the 18th hole at the Cranston Country Club. Casey was 58 years old. Companion bills, sponsored by Rep. Deborah Fellela and Sen. Andrew Dimitiri, both Johnston Democrats, amended the state's rules on locations where defibrillators are mandatory. State law had required defibrillators in enclosed spaces capable of holding 300 or more people. Spaces include bars, self-service laundry, shopping malls, arenas, government offices, and waiting rooms. 'David's death was tragic, and has mobilized his widow, Betsy, to become an advocate for AEDs on all golf courses,' Felella said in a statement issued by the State House Tuesday. 'She wants to make sure that David's death makes a difference, and if we save even one life, we reach that goal.' Rhode Island Department of Health Director Jerome 'Jerry' Larkin voiced support for the legislation in a Feb. 6 letter to the House Committee on Health and Human Services. He stated that using defibrillators and performing CPR within minutes of cardiac arrest can significantly boost survival rates. 2. The nation's first state-regulated safe injection site will continue for another two years. Project Weber/RENEW, the nonprofit that operates the South Providence site at 45 Willard Ave., was supposed to end its pilot overdose prevention program in 2026. Legislation sponsored by Rep. Jay Edwards, a Tiverton Democrat, extends the program through 2028. The law also mandates new reporting requirements on the number of people connected to other specialists for addiction treatment, and total overdoses prevented. McKee, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley and the Mental Health Association of Rhode Island each wrote to lawmakers to back the extension bill. 'Even one more life lost to substance use disorder and the opioid epidemic is one too many and HRCs are a critical preventative resource,' McKee wrote to the committee in February. Companion legislation was sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Melissa Murray, a Woonsocket Democrat. 3. Rhode Island's lifeguards and park rangers will now be required to be trained in administering opioid reversal drugs such as Narcan. This mandate comes from companion bills sponsored by Rep. William O'Brien, a North Providence Democrat, and Senate Majority Whip David Tikoian, a Smithfield Democrat. The bill also requires public beaches and parks to have at least four doses of this medicine available at all times. 'The sad reality we find ourselves in today is that opioid overdoses can happen anytime and anywhere,' O'Brien said in a statement. 'While we continue to combat the opioid crisis, this bill will save many lives.' The legislation originated from North Providence High School student Brennan O'Connor's senior project, according to a State House news release. 4. Rhode Island residents age 18 or older will have to wait at least 30 days after receiving a learner's permit before taking the road test. The law signed by McKee stems from matching bills sponsored by Democrats Rep. Robert Phillips of Woonsocket and Sen. Lou DiPalma of Middletown. It requires adults to wait at least 30 days after receiving a learner's permit before taking the road test for a full license. Rhode Island's Division of Motor Vehicles already mandates a 30-day waiting period, agency spokesperson Paul Grimaldi said via email Tuesday. It just was never codified under state law. 'A way to make certain things clear and succinct — you put it into Rhode Island General Law' DiPalma said in an interview. Under the new law, adult drivers' permits would expire one year after being issued. Permits can be renewed, but just once. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Health officials issue urgent warning after testing fish from popular river: 'It is important to take steps to lower our exposure'
A new health warning is causing concern among anglers and residents in Rhode Island and Connecticut. The Rhode Island Department of Health and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management issued an advisory against eating fish caught in the popular Pawcatuck River after discovering they were contaminated with high levels of toxic chemicals. As reported by GoLocalProv, recent samples found elevated levels of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, in fish caught in certain parts of the Pawcatuck River. PFAS are a group of synthetic chemicals commonly found in everything from nonstick cookware to waterproof clothing. They're often called "forever chemicals" because they don't break down in the environment. "Fishing is a valued tradition in Rhode Island, and fish are a good source of protein and nutrients. However, fish in some areas can have high levels of pollutants that can harm our health," said Director of Health Jerome Larkin. "While we are still learning about the sources and effects of PFAS, it is important to take steps to lower our exposure to these chemicals." PFAS contamination is a threat to human health and food security. Eating contaminated fish is one of the main ways these chemicals can build up in our bodies and cause health problems, including higher risks of cancer, liver damage, and other illnesses. Plus, the damage can be passed on during pregnancy. Studies show prenatal exposure can harm fetal immune system development, making exposed kids more likely to get sick throughout childhood. Communities that rely on fishing for food, business, or cultural traditions are especially vulnerable. And with PFAS showing up in water systems nationwide, contamination could have major long-term impacts on public health and local economies. Locally, Rhode Island health officials have posted signs in the area and told the public to avoid eating fish from affected waters. While officials said they didn't have enough data on how stocked trout had been affected, they are changing the stocking schedule to hopefully prevent PFAS buildup in the stocked trout population and working to get better data. Around the world, many governments have set stricter regulations for PFAS in drinking water and are funding efforts to clean up polluted water sources. Scientists have also been working on innovative ways to break down PFAS in drinking water. Individuals can help prevent PFAS pollution by choosing cookware free of PFAS when possible, including nonstick alternatives such as cast iron, and by supporting clean water initiatives that prioritize pollution prevention. How often do you worry about toxic chemicals getting into your home? Always Often Sometimes Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
McKee outlines his plan to tackle Rhode Island's primary care shortage
Rhode Island Department of Health Director Dr. Jerry Larkin speaks during a press conference at the State House on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. Behind Larkin left to right are Gov. Dan McKee, Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services Secretary Richard Charest, Rhode Island Medicaid Director Kristin Pono Sousa, and Rhode Island Health Insurance Commissioner Cory King. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) Gov. Dan McKee and top health care officials unveiled a new set of plans to mend Rhode Island's ailing primary care system Tuesday, with strategies like grants for helping clinics serve more patients and asking big commercial insurers to pay more. The Ocean State's dearth of primary care doctors won't be solved entirely, or even quickly. And the plan announced at a State House news conference by McKee and his Health Care System Planning Cabinet came a day before Anchor Medical Associates closes its Warwick office with two more set to close by June 30. 'We know that fixing these challenges will not happen overnight,' said Richard Charest, secretary of the Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS). 'These problems have developed over very many years, and we take and it will take time to rectify that.' The state is short about 300 primary care providers, according to Dr. Elizabeth Lange, a pediatrician at Hasbro who attended the conference. The all payer claims database shows Rhode Island currently has about 520 primary care providers, said Dr. Jerry Larkin, the state health department's director. 'So right now, we're a little bit short,' Larkin told the crowd. Solutions offered — like bigger primary care payments from commercial insurers, speeding up the Medicaid rate review process, and $5 million in grants for primary care practices — are all part of what McKee called 'a full deep dive into all factors that are related to primary care delivery.' 'There's still important work ahead, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to identify other strategies to strengthen our primary care system,' McKee said. 'We know that it is alarming when people in the state of Rhode Island are unable to find a primary care doctor, and we're going to do everything we can to connect them with the help that they are looking for.' Anchor Medical Associates on Wednesday will close its Warwick office — the first of the physician group's three locations which will all be shuttered by June 30. The Anchor closures announced earlier in April will affect about 25,000 patients, mostly children, who now need to find new primary care doctors. Charest told reporters he'd 'rather not get into the specifics of that practice,' but characterized the closure being due to 'internal operational challenges.' 'If we had been notified earlier, we may have been able to help stabilize that practice,' Charest said. 'I think that they were at a position that they had no liquidity at the end.' McKee's big ideas to tackle primary care crisis Accelerating Medicaid rate review for primary care. Requiring commercial health insurers to increase funding for primary care reimbursements Reducing red tape by easing prior authorization requirements Providing grants to help primary care practices serve additional patients and hire new providers Strengthening fiscal oversight of Rhode Island's health care system Expanding the primary care student loan forgiveness program Low reimbursement the state's Medicaid program pays providers have frequently been cited as a major contributing factor in the state's primary care troubles. McKee said he is moving to stabilize the state's primary care system by filing a budget amendment that would require the Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner (OHIC) to complete the primary care provider rate review process on an accelerated timeline. The rate review would be completed within a year instead of the usual two afforded to the rate review process for human services. Cory King, the health insurance commissioner, said the rate review would be completed by September 2026 on the new timeline. 'I don't set rates. I make recommendations after data driven analysis,' King said. That data and King's recommendations inform EOHHS' annual budget ask of the governor, which is submitted to the General Assembly in January. If the budget passes with the rates intact, it then goes to the federal government, which pays about half of Medicaid rate increases. If approved by the feds, the rate increases would take effect at the start of fiscal year 2028. 'There's some administrative tasks that have to happen before the actual rates are implemented,' Kristin Sousa, the Medicaid program director, told reporters. 'Traditionally, when the legislature passes the budget, it's effective on July 1. In this case, July 1 of 2027, we may not be ready to implement on July 1, but it will retro back to July 1.' Several studies published on primary care in Rhode Island in recent years, including a 2024 study by the Rhode Island Foundation, have found the Ocean State's reimbursement rates lag far behind Connecticut and Massachusetts. Could that data be used to inform the rate review process? 'I would say, 'Share the data with us.' Cuz I haven't seen it,' McKee said. King encouraged people to dig into that report's numbers a little more. The Rhode Island Foundation report was not exclusively focused on provider reimbursement, he said, but rather 'hospitals and patient and operation services.' Yes, reimbursement rates in other New England states are higher, King said, but this is consistent with higher health insurance premiums in those states. We know that it is alarming when people in the state of Rhode Island are unable to find a primary care doctor, and we're going to do everything we can to connect them with the help that they are looking for. – Gov. Dan McKee 'In Massachusetts, of the 53 hospitals in the inpatient data set, only six hospitals are actually reimbursed at or above the statewide average, And in Connecticut, of the 26 hospitals in the inpatient data set, only eight of those 26 hospitals are reimbursed at or above that statewide average. So there are great variations that we need to consider when looking at reimbursement rates more granularly.' Still, King cited the importance of primary care investment as a preventative measure for even more health care spending. 'My position has always been that putting money into primary care is a wise investment, as opposed to, say, putting money into emergency department reimbursement,' King said. 'Primary care accounts for approximately 6% of what commercial payers pay for health care business services, but it helps control the other 94%.' For a more immediate fix, McKee is proposing $5 million in grants to help existing practices serve more patients. Clinics can apply for up to $75,000 to take on new patients or up to $300,000 to hire primary care physicians or 'mid-level' providers such as nurse practitioners or physician assistants. Applications for grants are available online through May 16. Separately, the state is imposing new regulations on commercial insurers requiring them to double their primary care spending by 2029. The rules also mandate a 20% reduction in prior authorization requirements to help lower administrative burdens on primary care doctors. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha blasted McKee's plans in a press release issued about 40 minutes after the press conference ended. 'The Governor's health care announcement today is a slapdash response to political and public pressure because of the dissolution of Anchor Medical, and unfortunately, I expected nothing more,' Neronha said. Neronha, who has established himself as one of McKee's most vocal critics, said the governor is 'hanging his hat' on conducting future studies and reviews. 'Our PCPs are overworked and overburdened by a state health care system that doesn't support them,' Neronha said. 'Our residents are scrambling to find primary care physicians to care for them through illnesses and fill prescriptions for live-preserving medications. We are in crisis. And some of us have been sounding the alarm for years.' McKee said at the press event that Rhode Island surpasses many other states for health care access in quality, citing U.S. News and World Report's ranking of Rhode Island as fifth in the nation in health care overall. Neronha took issue with McKee's rosy outlook, saying McKee was 'once again showing how out of touch this Governor is with the reality of the situation.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
