MAKING REVISED APPROPRIATIONS IN SUPPORT OF FY 2026 RELATING TO ROGER WILLIAMS MEDICAL CENTER AND OUR LADY OF FATIMA HOSPITAL AND AUTHORIZING THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND TO PROVIDE FINANCING SUPPORT TO ASSIST THE SALE OF THE HOSPITALS TO CHARTERCARE HEALTH OF RHODE ISLAND,

Rhode Island Hospital Sale Support Bill

This bill authorizes the state of Rhode Island to provide financial support to help complete the sale of two hospitals — Roger Williams Medical Center and Our Lady of Fatima Hospital — to an organization called CharterCare Health of Rhode Island. The bill also adjusts the state's budget for the current fiscal year (FY 2026) to account for this financial involvement. Essentially, the state is stepping in to help make this hospital sale happen by offering some form of financing assistance.

The people most directly affected are patients and communities served by these two hospitals, particularly in Providence and North Providence. If the sale falls through without state support, there could be risks to hospital operations, access to care, and local jobs. By backing the deal financially, the state aims to help ensure these hospitals remain open and continue serving Rhode Island residents.

This bill has moved through the legislative process with notable speed — it was recommended for immediate consideration and passed the Senate. It has been referred to the House Finance Committee for further review. The specific dollar amounts and exact financing terms would be spelled out in the full text of the bill, which is typical for appropriations legislation of this kind.

It is worth noting that CharterCare Health of Rhode Island is the entity taking ownership of these hospitals. The state's role here is as a financial backer of the transaction, not as the buyer itself. Whether this support takes the form of loans, guarantees, or direct funding would be detailed in the bill's full language.