Attorney General Peter F. Neronha has announced a new regulation that requires pre-merger notification for certain transactions involving medical practice groups in Rhode Island, including those with private equity involvement. The measure is intended to allow the Attorney General’s Office to review and investigate transactions that could lead to excessive market consolidation, increased health care prices, or reduced quality of care.
“Rhode Island’s health care system faces challenges on many fronts,” said Attorney General Neronha. “But first and foremost, it is a crisis of access. Rhode Islanders everywhere struggle to find quality health care, especially primary care. At the same time, private equity and increasing market consolidation drive up the cost of care, further inhibiting patient access. This regulation gives my Office a bird’s eye view to ensure that future medical group mergers do not harm Rhode Islanders’ access to health care services. For our part, we will continue to pull the levers available to us to ensure that all Rhode Islanders have unencumbered access to affordable, quality health care.”
The regulation strengthens reporting requirements for medical-practice groups based in Rhode Island. These groups must now notify the Attorney General’s Office before any merger, consolidation, or acquisition if it results in ownership or control by a private equity investor; involves eight or more physicians, physician assistants, or nurse practitioners; or establishes a management services organization responsible for administering contracts with insurers or third-party administrators.
Applicants are required to provide basic information about the transaction parties as well as anticipated changes regarding services and locations. They must also disclose expected impacts on reimbursement rates, referral patterns for patient care, access to services, and overall quality of care.
This regulatory change comes after an eight-month rulemaking process which included public notice on May 28, 2025; a public hearing on July 8; and acceptance of comments through July 23. The final version was submitted for approval in early January 2026 following consideration of public feedback. The regulation takes effect January 28.
For additional details about this new requirement and its implementation timeline visit the Attorney General’s website.
