Limits copays, coinsurance or office deductibles for services of a physical therapist to the amount authorized for the services of a primary care physician or osteopath on or after January 1, 2027.

Rhode Island Physical Therapy Copay Bill

This bill would cap what Rhode Island residents pay out-of-pocket for physical therapy visits. Starting January 1, 2027, health insurance plans could not charge patients more for a physical therapy appointment than they charge for a visit to a primary care doctor or osteopath. In other words, if your insurance charges you a $25 copay to see your regular doctor, they could not charge you more than $25 for a physical therapy session.

The bill affects anyone in Rhode Island who has accident or sickness health insurance and needs physical therapy services. Currently, many insurance plans place physical therapy visits in a higher cost-sharing tier, meaning patients often pay larger copays, coinsurance percentages, or deductibles for these visits compared to seeing a primary care doctor. This bill would require insurers to treat physical therapy visits more like routine doctor visits when it comes to patient cost-sharing.

The practical effect would be to make physical therapy more affordable and accessible for patients who need it for injury recovery, chronic pain management, rehabilitation, or other medical conditions. Insurance companies would need to adjust how they structure their benefit plans to comply with this requirement. The bill has been introduced and sent to the Rhode Island Senate Health and Human Services Committee, where it will be reviewed before any further action is taken.