AGP Executive Report

Medicaid Fight for Trans Youth: Vermont, New York, Washington and other states sued the Trump administration over a rule blocking federal Medicaid/CHIP reimbursement for gender-affirming care for low-income youth, arguing HHS/CMS overstepped authority and unlawfully overrides state medical decisions. Primary Care Funding: Rhode Island’s Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner says Medicaid primary care rates are still below the cost of care; Gov. Dan McKee pledged about $16.5M in the next budget to raise reimbursement to better match actual costs. Air Pollution Regulation: AG Kwame Raoul joined a multistate push urging EPA to withdraw a proposal that would loosen NOx limits from heavy-duty vehicles, warning it could worsen asthma and harm environmental justice communities. Caregiver Safety Innovation: A South County Hospital nurse created “Looey,” a splash guard for bedpan washers/toilets after getting sprayed while caring for patients. Public Health Alert: Rhode Island rabies cases rose to 34 after two Warwick raccoons tested positive; RIDOH says people and pets may need treatment after possible exposure. Local Health Access: RIPTA unveiled 50 new paratransit vans to expand RIde and Flex On Demand capacity. Primary Care Progress in Numbers: A new OHIC report says RI Medicaid fee-for-service primary care rates now top several New England states and exceed the national median.

School Food Security: Stop & Shop kicked off its annual School Food Pantry Campaign, running Sept. 4–Oct. 30, with shoppers rounding up or donating $1, $3, or $5 to support school pantries across Massachusetts and Rhode Island (and more). The program, launched in 2019, now backs 290+ schools and serves 50,000+ students and families monthly. Public Health Watch: CDC data shows COVID-19 cases are rising in multiple states, including a “summer surge” pattern seen since around 2022, though overall activity remains “very low.” Food Safety: Hodo recalled more than 10,000 cases of Chili Crisp Lightly Fried Tofu after ink from packaging film may have migrated into food. Local Care Access: A Colorado hospital says it has treated ICE detainees about 150 times since last October but hasn’t been reimbursed yet—highlighting a federal payment breakdown that also affects Rhode Island’s ICE detainee care. Rhode Island Research: URI and Louisiana State University received a $4M NSF grant to advance wetland science, linking Rhode Island salt marsh work with Louisiana delta restoration.

Violence & Community Safety: A Bank of America vice president, Erin Piacenti, 32, was fatally stabbed in New York’s Times Square in a random attack; police say the suspect, Pamela Cisneros, was shot and killed after refusing to drop knives, while a Rhode Island man was also injured. Public Health Watch: The CDC reports COVID-19 cases are rising in many states during the “summer surge,” with Rhode Island listed as having flat viral activity. Food Safety: Hodo, Inc. recalled more than 10,000 cases of Chili Crisp Lightly Fried Tofu across 29 states after ink from packaging may have migrated into the food. Local Research & Environment: URI and LSU received a $4M NSF grant to expand wetland science, linking Louisiana delta work with Rhode Island salt marsh restoration planning. Digital Health for Families: Pieces of Perception launched a Rhode Island-based platform turning parent questionnaires into personalized reports for neurodivergent children’s caregivers and school teams. Online Child Safety: Attorneys general announced a landmark Meta settlement requiring new protections aimed at reducing how long children spend on Instagram and Facebook.

Neurodivergent Support: Pieces of Perception launched Sept. 1 a new parent-to-professional platform that turns a caregiver questionnaire into personalized reports for teachers, therapists, and other daily-life adults. Workplace Health: Rhode Island’s menopause workplace protections are getting national attention as a new report highlights how the state became the first to require employer accommodations for menopause symptoms. Affordability Pressure: A URI poll finds 72% of Rhode Islanders are very worried about healthcare costs, with many skipping recommended care. Food Safety Alerts: FDA recalled Hood Chili Crisp Tofu in multiple states due to possible ink contamination; more FDA/USDA recalls are also circulating this week. Public Health Access: Rhode Island Blood Center is urging donors over Labor Day after a summer of low collections, with eligibility and appointment details available online. Caregiving & Community: URI’s Free Farmers Market returns Sept. 10 with fresh produce for students, plus a reminder that farm-to-table distribution is fast. Local Health Story: A Rhode Island Hospital patient’s recovery drew national headlines after Taylor Swift donated $50,000 toward medical bills for a mother seriously injured while helping teens on I-95.

AI in Clinics: Rhode Island became the first state to require healthcare providers to tell patients when an AI scribe is used for visit notes—and to review AI-written documentation for accuracy. Public Health Watch: CDC data shows COVID-19 cases are rising in many states as summer ends, with a “summer surge” pattern still driving upticks from a low baseline. Overdose Prevention: Advocates marked Overdose Awareness Day in Burlington, pushing for a prevention center while the city’s timeline remains unclear amid concerns about enforcement and quality of life. EMS Policy: Indiana will stop hospital “diversion” for overcrowding, a move aimed at reducing delays for ambulance rides. Cancer Care Update: CharterCARE’s Roger Williams Medical Center is rolling out new breast cancer technology (Scout MD) to help surgeons more precisely target tumors. Food Safety: FDA announced a large tofu recall in 29 states due to possible ink contamination, including Rhode Island. Local Health & Wellness Research: URI researchers are studying how dollar stores affect food choices and nutrition for low-income shoppers. Health Tech & Privacy: Rhode Island’s AI scribe law joins a broader national push for transparency as digital tools expand in care settings.

Community Health Funding: Rhode Island secured nearly $3M in federal support for child mental health services, aimed at kids and teens with serious emotional disturbances and helping expand early, community-based care. New Care Access: Nuvia Dental Implant Center opened in Johnston, offering implant surgery with permanent teeth for eligible patients within 24 hours. Local Health Leadership: Wood River Health welcomed four new board members, strengthening governance across clinical, regulatory, finance, and strategic planning expertise. Public Health & Safety Tech: Rhode Island is using Flock Safety license plate reader cameras, but critics say rules for data retention and access are still missing. Workplace Health Crisis: Hospital strikes are being driven by staffing shortages and violence against healthcare workers, with Rhode Island named among states facing the problem. Injury & Recovery Spotlight: Taylor Swift donated $50,000 to support a Rhode Island Good Samaritan, Ashley Taunton, seriously injured while helping teens after a crash. Wellness for Older Adults: The Rhode Island Senior Games returned to Conley Stadium, promoting movement and social connection for adults 50+.

Workplace Safety: Nurses and other hospital staff are striking in multiple states, citing violence against healthcare workers and chronic staffing shortages, as one nurse describes being shoved, bitten, and pushed to work despite the danger. Local Health & Recovery: A Rhode Island mobile opioid treatment unit is expanding access by delivering medications for opioid use disorder and harm-reduction supplies via a converted bus, while researchers note real-world barriers that threaten its reach. Community Wellness: The Peace Dale Library in South Kingstown reopened its renovated second floor, creating a new Community Learning Center to expand local learning resources. Public Health & Environment: RIDOH and DEM lifted advisories at Lake Mishnock and Wenscott/Oak Swamp reservoirs, recommending avoiding contact earlier due to concerns about water conditions. Medical Story: A 19-year-old’s delayed diagnosis of a large ovarian tumor after symptoms were first dismissed as constipation highlights how quickly care decisions can affect outcomes. Injury & Support: Taylor Swift donated $50,000 to help a Rhode Island Good Samaritan mother of three, Ashley Taunton, recovering after severe injuries from a crash while helping teens. Research Spotlight: URI researchers used century-old leopard seal specimens to study how climate change may affect the Southern Ocean’s apex predator. Health & Lifestyle: Rhode Island’s Senior Games returned with track-and-field and other events aimed at keeping adults 50+ active. Health Policy Watch: A Rhode Island low-income solar plan remains tied up in litigation after federal Solar for All funding was terminated, leaving community solar expansion in limbo.

Hospital Workplace Safety: Violence against healthcare workers and staffing shortages are driving hospital strikes, with Rhode Island named among the states seeing picket lines as workers report assaults and injuries. Opioid Care Access: A Rhode Island mobile opioid treatment unit is expanding medication for opioid use disorder “on wheels,” pairing clinic services with outreach and harm-reduction supplies in high-need areas. Local Health & Community: Peace Dale Library’s renovated second floor now houses South Kingstown’s Community Learning Center, adding more local resources for learning and support. Public Health Alerts: Rhode Island health officials lifted a water advisory at Lake Mishnock and warned residents to avoid contact with Wenscott and Oak Swamp reservoirs. Mental Health Spotlight: The Lindsay Clancy trial continues to raise urgent questions about postpartum psychosis and how mental health care is delivered when mothers seek help. Community Health Funding: Rhode Island Foundation grants totaling $5.4M are supporting housing, food access, health care, and behavioral-health training for police. Injury Recovery Story: Taylor Swift donated $50,000 to help Ashley Taunton, a Rhode Island crash good Samaritan, as she recovers from life-threatening injuries.

Injury Recovery Spotlight: Taylor Swift donated $50,000 to a GoFundMe for Ashley Taunton, a Rhode Island–injured mother of three who was hurt while helping teens after a hydroplaning crash on I-95; her family says she’s faced multiple surgeries and may need up to a year of recovery. Healthy Aging: The Rhode Island Senior Games returned to Conley Stadium, encouraging adults 50+ to stay active through track-and-field events and friendly competition. Opioid Care Access: A Rhode Island mobile opioid treatment unit is being studied as a “lifeline on wheels,” delivering medications for opioid use disorder and outreach in high-need areas. Public Health Water Alerts: RIDOH and DEM lifted the Lake Mishnock advisory after a harmful algae bloom cleared, while keeping warnings in place for Wenscott Reservoir and Oak Swamp Reservoir. Community Support Funding: The Rhode Island Foundation awarded more than $5.4M in grants for housing, food, health care, and behavioral-health training for police. Youth Safety & Health Policy: Rhode Island AGs joined a multistate push tied to Title X family planning protections and broader efforts to shield reproductive and preventive care from federal restrictions.

Mental Health & Safety: The Lindsay Clancy murder trial continues to spotlight postpartum psychosis and whether medication changes and care access played a role as jurors weigh insanity claims. Public Health & Environment: RIDOH and DEM lifted the avoid-recreation advisory at Lake Mishnock after a harmful algae bloom cleared, but kept high-risk guidance for Wenscott Reservoir and Oak Swamp Reservoir until further notice. Community Health Funding: The Rhode Island Foundation awarded $5.4M in grants for housing, food, health care, and behavioral-health training for police. Food Safety: USDA issued a Class I recall of about 24,900 pounds of frozen buffalo chicken products after an inspection lapse and false inspection marks, with shipments reported to Rhode Island food-service locations. Local Health Systems: Brown’s pandemic center released guidance on preventing and mitigating infectious disease outbreaks, emphasizing preparedness and public trust in health guidance. Caregiving & Prevention: A Block Island Health Center event on Sept. 12 will teach stroke warning signs and why fast treatment matters.

Public Health Advisory Lifted: RIDOH and DEM say the harmful algae bloom at Lake Mishnock in West Greenwich has cleared, but they’re still warning Rhode Islanders to avoid contact with Wenscott Reservoir (North Providence) and Oak Swamp Reservoir (Johnston) due to ongoing blue-green algae risks. Food Safety Recall: USDA’s FSIS issued a Class I recall for nearly 25,000 pounds of frozen buffalo chicken products shipped to food-service sites in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont after inspection marks were found to be fabricated. Youth Health & Privacy: Rhode Island AGs joined a federal appeal effort urging a court to stop Florida’s legal action against the American Academy of Pediatrics over child gender transition discussions. Reproductive Care Funding Fight: Nevada AG Aaron Ford announced a lawsuit challenging new Title X family planning funding conditions; Rhode Island is among states in the broader legal push to protect preventive care access. Community Health Education: Block Island Health Center will host a stroke warning-signs presentation Sept. 12 at 4 p.m. at the Community Center.

Title X Fight: Michigan AG Dana Nessel joined a multistate lawsuit seeking to block new federal Title X grant conditions that would punish states and clinics unless they drop anti-discrimination efforts and follow politically driven rules for reproductive care. Local Health Policy: Rhode Island AG Peter Neronha urged regulators to reject proposed 2027 premium hikes for individual plans, targeting Neighborhood Health Plan’s 22.4% request and commenting on Blue Cross’s 9.8% bid. Youth Safety Online: Rhode Island is set to receive at least $49.4M (up to $64.5M) from a landmark Meta settlement requiring new limits and nighttime blocks for teens on Instagram and Facebook, pending court approval. Preventive Care & Vaccines: CDC data show kindergarten vaccine exemptions rose to 4.2% nationwide, with Rhode Island at 96.7% MMR coverage. Food Safety: USDA recalled about 24,900 pounds of frozen buffalo chicken products shipped to RI and other New England states after false inspection marks were found. Care Without Overuse: A new review in JAMA Internal Medicine says most non-traumatic shoulder pain doesn’t need imaging—conservative care first. Traffic Safety: A long-awaited temporary traffic light at Routes 101 and 94 in Foster will go live Friday while officials plan a longer-term fix.

Health Insurance Rates: Rhode Island AG Peter Neronha urged regulators to reject proposed 2027 premium hikes for individual plans, targeting Neighborhood Health Plan’s 22.4% request and also challenging Blue Cross Blue Shield’s 9.8% increase. Reproductive Health Funding Fight: Maine, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and other states—including Rhode Island—joined lawsuits to block new Title X conditions that would require clinics to drop diversity efforts, exclude transgender patients, steer away from contraception, and push “natural family planning” and marriage/parenthood counseling. Big Tech Youth Safety: A multistate Meta settlement totaling about $17.1B would require Instagram and Facebook to add child-safety limits like daily time caps and “Productive Pauses,” plus nighttime blocks and stronger age checks. Mosquito-Borne Disease Watch: RIDOH and DEM confirmed additional West Nile Virus detections in Cranston and Providence; risk remains high statewide. Food Safety Recall: USDA recalled 24,900 pounds of frozen buffalo chicken products shipped to RI and other New England states due to production without federal inspection. Local Safety: A temporary traffic light is set to go live at a crash-prone Foster intersection, with a roundabout discussed as a longer-term option. Opioid Settlement Use: A national investigation found some jurisdictions are spending opioid settlement money on Flock cameras and automated license plate readers instead of treatment and harm-reduction services. Public Health & Wellness: Pawtucket opened registration for its Youth-to-Senior Snow Shoveling Program, pairing teens with older residents for winter safety help.

Big Tech & Youth Safety: Rhode Island is set to receive at least $49.4 million from a landmark $17.1 billion multistate Meta settlement over alleged addictive design on Instagram and Facebook, with the deal also requiring new child-safety features like screen-time limits and nighttime access blocks. Substance Use Care Access: CODAC Behavioral Healthcare and Wood River Health launched a mobile medical unit in Hope Valley offering substance use disorder treatment, including medication for opioid use disorder, plus screenings like blood pressure and glucose checks. Food Safety Recall: USDA is recalling nearly 25,000 pounds of frozen buffalo chicken products shipped to Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont after they were produced without federal inspection. Local Health & Community: Rhode Island Community Food Bank CEO Melissa Cherney reflects on her first year, including navigating major hunger pressures and building local partnerships in Cranston. Healthcare Business Watch: McKesson is boosting its oncology unit with a major precision deal tied to its Ontada oncology data work and long-running partnerships, including with CVS Health. Public Health Policy: Massachusetts retailers sued to block an emergency kratom ban that would temporarily classify kratom-derived products as Schedule I.

Meta Child-Safety Settlement: Rhode Island is set to receive at least $49.4 million (up to $64.5 million) from a landmark $17.1 billion multistate deal with Meta over claims Instagram and Facebook used addictive features that harmed teens. The agreement—still subject to court approval—requires major changes like two-hour daily caps, nighttime blocks (midnight–6 a.m.), school-hour limits, stronger age checks, and disabling public like counts, with money paid over 10 years. Health Policy & Costs: Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha also filed objections to 2027 individual-market health insurance rate requests from Blue Cross and Neighborhood Health Plan, with decisions expected mid-September. Data Privacy Risk: A Baylor Genetics breach may have exposed sensitive medical data for 2.8 million people nationwide, including about 4,532 Rhode Island residents. Care Access Watch: A new look at rural maternity care highlights how shrinking hospital obstetrics services and Medicaid pressures can worsen outcomes like preterm birth and low birthweight. Workplace Safety: Reuters reports produce supplier Taylor Farms repeatedly missed required workplace injury logs, including at a Rhode Island facility tied to an ammonia leak.

Workforce & Training: Electric Boat and the New England Institute of Technology are expanding their Warwick training partnership, adding $45 million in Navy and company support to grow the campus to 100,000 square feet and prepare about 3,000 new hires per year for shipyard jobs. Health Access & Housing: Rhode Island Foundation grants totaling $290,000 are supporting Newport County programs tied to education, housing, food access, healthcare, and social services, including short-term shelter hotel help for people experiencing homelessness. Insurance Affordability: Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha is objecting to proposed 2027 individual-market premium hikes—22% for Neighborhood Health Plan of RI and 9.8% for BCBSRI—covering more than 50,000 residents. Workplace Safety & Food Safety: A Reuters review says Taylor Farms, tied to a cyclospora outbreak, often failed to submit required workplace injury logs, limiting public visibility into safety performance. Community Leadership: Conexión Latina Newport received the Rhode Island Foundation’s 2026 Community Leadership Award for work connecting families to education and healthcare equity. Clinical Care Research: A study on sugammadex in emergency care found about 54% of traumatic brain injury or spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage patients showed improved neurologic scores after reversal of paralysis.