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Monthly News & Updates | October 2025 | | Leadership Corner 💡 Vaccine Access in Rhode Island | | |
🩺 Rhode Island’s State-Supplied Vaccine Program: Expanding Access to Routine Immunizations
Rhode Island has been a national leader in ensuring vaccine access for over three decades through the State-Supplied Vaccine (SSV) Program, which provides recommended child and adult vaccines to enrolled providers at no cost. From pediatric practices to pharmacies, this universal purchasing model helps eliminate barriers and maintain consistent vaccine availability for all Rhode Islanders, regardless of insurance status.
👉 Read the full article on how the SSVP strengthens Rhode Island’s public health infrastructure.
| | 💬 Leadership Corner: Dr. Elizabeth Lange on Universal Vaccine Access | |
In our latest Leadership Corner, Dr. Elizabeth Lange, MD, FAAP, primary care pediatrician and Chair of the CTC-RI Board of Directors, shares her insights on how Rhode Island’s bulk purchasing model supports equitable vaccine access. She discusses how the centralized program helps providers manage supply, what parents should know about fall respiratory vaccines, and why universal vaccine access is vital to protecting children across all communities.
👉 Read the full Q&A with Dr. Lange.
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🎥 In Case You Missed It:
Senator Reed on Vaccine Access
Senator Jack Reed, Dr. Elizabeth Lange. Dr. Patricia Flanagan and public health leaders recently held a press conference highlighting Rhode Island’s continued commitment to ensuring vaccine access for all residents.
📰 Read Senator Reed’s Statement: “Vaccines Save Lives”
| | | 🗓️ Upcoming CTC-RI Meetings & Learning Opportunities | | |
Best Practices in Team-Based Care Learning Series: Pediatric Sleep in Primary Care
🗓️ October 21 (8–9 AM)
Register Today! This session will feature lessons from the Pediatric Sleep ECHO, including a Sleep 101 overview from Dr. Julie Boergers, project insights from our practice facilitator, and success stories from participating practices. Learn how practices implemented tools like the BEARS screener and clinical decision supports to improve pediatric sleep care.
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Friday! CSC Payer Strategy Follow-Up
🗓️ October 17 (7:30–9 AM)
CTC-RI's Clinical Strategy Committee will host a hands-on session designed to move beyond discussion and into action. Building on the momentum from September’s Payer Strategy Panel, this session will focus on real-world solutions and next steps to strengthen primary care in Rhode Island. This session includes candidate dialogue between insurers and care teams; Targeted strategies for alignment, barrier reduction, and pilot testing; and collaborative priority-setting to drive care transformation forward.
✅ If you’re interested in attending and are not currently on the CSC meeting invite series, contact Michelle Mooney (mmooney@ctc-ri.org).
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📢 Updates, Successes, and Developments
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CTC-RI Launches New Age-Friendly Learning Collaborative
CTC-RI, in partnership with the Rhode Island Department of Health, has kicked off a new learning collaborative—Delivering Age-Friendly Care: Implementing the 4M Model and Supporting Care Partners of People with Dementia. Ten practices from across the state are working toward Age-Friendly Health System recognition, embedding the 4M framework (What Matters, Medication, Mentation, and Mobility) into clinical care while enhancing support for caregivers.
Practice facilitators Suzanne Herzberg, Christine Ferrone, and Jayne Daylor will guide teams through the six-month initiative, supported CTC-RI leadership and project management.
👉 Read the full article
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Rhode Island Leads the Way in Age-Friendly Dementia Care
The Gerontologist recently spotlighted Rhode Island as a national model for advancing dementia-friendly, age-friendly care through the Building Our Largest Dementia Infrastructure (BOLD) Program. In partnership with the Rhode Island Department of Health, CTC-RI, and the Rhode Island Geriatric Education Center, the state is transforming primary care using the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s 4Ms Framework.
With support from the HRSA-funded Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program and UnitedHealthcare, this collaborative effort strengthens dementia care, supports caregivers, and positions RI as a blueprint for states nationwide. Read more
👉 Read the full article in The Gerontologist
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Thank You To Our Sponsors!
We extend our sincere thanks to all of our generous sponsors for supporting the 2025 CTC-RI Annual Conference, “Advancing Primary Care: Innovating for a Sustainable Future,” taking place on November 19 at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick. Your partnership plays a vital role in helping us bring together primary care leaders, innovators, and stakeholders to drive meaningful change across Rhode Island’s health system. Because of your support, we are able to create a dynamic space for collaboration, learning, and progress toward a more sustainable future in primary care.
Register for the CTC-RI Annual Conference on Nov. 19
✅ Register here
📋 View the draft agenda
| | | 💻 Missed It? Recent CTC-RI Learnings! | | |
Your hub for recent CTC-RI programs, learning sessions, and highlights!
Find recaps and links to presentations, resources, and recordings from our most recent work.
Click here to catch up on missed content or revisit a session.
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October 28 Webinar: 2025 Respiratory Season Update for Rhode Island
Register today for this free Oct. 28 webinar (8–9 AM) to review current vaccine recommendations, data on state and national coverage rates, guidance for messaging at patient encounters, and more. RIDOH’s Office of Immunization and the Association of Immunization Managers (AIM) are co-hosting this webinar, with speakers including Dr. Olutosin “Tosin” Ojugbele, MD, MPH, RIDOH Medical Director and Dr. Michelle Fiscus, MD, Chief Medical Officer, AIM.
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Milbank Memorial Fund Highlights Rhode Island’s Health Care Affordability Standards
The Milbank Memorial Fund recently published an issue brief spotlighting RI’s pioneering Health Care Affordability Standards, calling them a model for other states seeking to control health care spending. The brief examines how RI’s Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner has successfully implemented strategies that have led to a relative reduction in hospital prices and strengthened primary care investment and accountability.
Read the Milbank issue brief
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Nominate a Rhode Islander for the Grace Diaz Blue Light Award
Each year the Rhode Island World Diabetes Day (RIWDD) Committee recognizes an individual or organization that has positively impacted diabetes in the state of Rhode Island by awarding the Grace Diaz Blue Light Award. In keeping with the 2025 World Diabetes Day theme, "Diabetes and Wellbeing," this year's Blue Light Award will be presented to an individual or organization who demonstrates a strong commitment to supporting the well-being of individuals with diabetes through care, personal support, and a focus on their overall health and wellness.
Submit your nomination by November 1, 2025.
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Alzheimer's Association 2025 Annual Brian R. Ott, MD Research Symposium
On Nov. 13 (6–7:30 PM) in Warwick, learn about the results of U.S. POINTER, a clinical trial that evaluated the impact multiple lifestyle interventions have on improving cognition for at-risk older adults. U.S. POINTER is the largest clinical trial funded by the Alzheimer's Association to date, and one of the study sites is right here in Rhode Island. Learn more.
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Opportunity to Host a Student Intern from Providence College Department of Health Sciences
CTC-RI has enjoyed hosting interns from Providence College (PC) for many years. Interns come from the Department of Health Sciences––including Health Policy and Management or Health Sciences bachelor of science majors, and students from PC's new nursing program! Learn more. Interested? Contact Dr. Alexandrya Cairns at acairns1@providence.edu.
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🌎 Registration is Open for Rhode Island World Diabetes Day!
🗓️ November 13 in Warwick
This half-day program brings together healthcare professionals, community partners, and advocates to share strategies, innovations, and inspiration in diabetes care. Attendees will explore strategies that address pressing issues in diabetes care, from patient access and affordability, to innovation in detection and treatment, to age-friendly approaches that support quality of life.
📋 Agenda and details
✅ Register
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Medicare Telehealth Flexibilities Expire: What You Need to Know
As of October 1, 2025, many temporary Medicare telehealth waivers enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic have expired, following delays in passing the FY2026 federal spending bill. This rollback reverts several policies to pre-pandemic rules, impacting eligible patient locations, provider types, and reimbursement.
While Congress continues to discuss potential extensions—possibly retroactive to the expiration date — organizations should review the updated guidance and ensure operational teams and patients are informed. Note that state Medicaid and private payer telehealth policies remain unaffected, with many maintaining expanded digital health flexibilities.
📘 Learn more:
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