Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo used her daily COVID-19 briefing on Thursday to address her concerns with the state's health care system. The governor said that the state needs to "get creative" in order to solve issues like providing equal access to all Rhode Islanders, reduce health disparities and improving prevention and tele-healthcare while controlling costs. Raimondo announced that she is signing executive order affirming a commitment to a long term health care plan.
Describing the health care system as "stretched and fragile," Governor Raimondo said that her administration has built a hospital relief fund of up to $150 million to help hospitals remain financially secure. Much of the focus of her plan will center around pediatric medicine, which Raimondo says has been hit especially hard during the COVID-19 crisis. Childhood immunizations have dropped 35% since the pandemic began, and the governor says "we need to get on that right now."
The executive order instructing health insurance companies to cover tele-healthcare is being and extended, and could become permanent in the future according to Governor Raimondo. A pay increase for frontline nursing home workers who make under $20/hour is also being extended, through June 15th.
COVID-19 Data for Thursday 6/4:
- New cases: 100. total= 15,325
- New fatalities: 14. Total = 756
- Prior day tests: 3,226
- Currently hospitalized: 185
- Hospital discharges: 1,326
Photo: NBC10WJAR video Data & Graphic: RIDOH