Governor Lincoln Chafee has signed a $7.7 billion state budget that includes the following changes in health coverage for children and families.

• Raises the monthly premiums for families with RIte Care coverage to the full 5% of income allowed by law. Starting on October 1, 2011, families currently paying $61 would pay $91, those currently paying $77 would pay $113 and those currently paying $92 would pay $122.
   
• Eliminates state subsidy for co-payments for office visits, prescriptions and premiums for families enrolled in RIte Share. Low-income working families enrolled in RIte Share have employer-sponsored coverage that is made more affordable with a state subsidy for their co-payments, which would be eliminated.
   
• Concurs with the Governor's proposal to enhance the Children's Health Account by increasing the maximum "per child per service" assessment level from $6,000 to $7,500 while expanding the definition of the services that can be counted toward the spending limit.

The budget goes into effect on Friday, July 1, 2011.

A new publication by the Oral Health Program at the Rhode Island Department of Health describes the importance of oral health care for pregnant women.

Pregnant women who maintain good oral health during pregnancy can reduce common pregnancy complications, including gestational diabetes and pregnancy-induced hypertension. This improves both the woman's health and her baby's health. Only half of Rhode Island women seek dental care during their pregnancy. This report recommends that prenatal health care providers refer pregnant women for oral health care.