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Council unanimously backs state bill on affordable prescription costs for health centers
Summary
The Richmond Town Council voted May 13 to approve a resolution supporting Rhode Island House Bill 5634, which supporters say will protect certain federal discounts and limit middleman practices that increase local medication costs; the council cited possible large revenue losses for local health centers if protections were removed.
At the May 13 meeting the Richmond Town Council voted to adopt a resolution in support of Rhode Island House Bill 5634, described in council materials as legislation to defend affordable prescription costs and protect federal discount programs used by community health providers.
Town staff summarized the rationale for supporting the bill: Health‑center leaders argue that changes to the federal 340B program (described during the meeting as “3 40 b”) or middlemen practices could reduce revenue local centers use to deliver discounted medications and essential services. Council members said that an adverse ruling or federal policy change could result in significant financial losses for community health centers; the council cited a potential impact of roughly $1,000,000 to Wood River Health if protections were lost.
Councilor remarks and vote Councilors said the resolution is a nonbinding municipal statement urging state legislators to support the bill and protect access to affordable medicines for low‑income patients served by health centers. The council approved the resolution by roll call with unanimous support. The council asked the town clerk to forward the adopted resolution to Representative Kotter and state legislative leaders.
Next steps: The clerk’s office will transmit the council’s resolution to the state representative who requested municipal support; the council noted that the measure does not itself change state policy but is intended as a local expression of support for the bill.
