RI H7480

Healthcare professionals performing annual physical examinations on children aged 19 or younger must include a cardiovascular prescreening following nationally recognized, evidence-based guidelines, including targeted personal and family history and a focused physical exam, with positive findings referred to a cardiologist.

Students in grades K-12 must complete a physical examination to detect cardiovascular disease and submit a preparticipation physical evaluation form before participating on any school or community organization-sponsored interscholastic or intramural athletic team; the exam must be conducted within 12 months prior to the first day of official practice.

The Department of Health must create a single statewide preparticipation physical evaluation form and publish an annual report on its website detailing the total number of preparticipation exams completed and cardiologist referrals made, along with outcome analysis and recommendations.

The education commissioner, in consultation with the Department of Health, the American Heart Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, must develop and distribute a pamphlet on sudden cardiac arrest to all school districts; beginning in the 2027-2028 school year, districts must annually distribute it to parents of student athletes, who must certify in writing they received and reviewed it.

The Departments of Education and Health, in collaboration with organizations including the RI chapters of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Cardiology, and others, must establish training and continuing education programs to improve cardiovascular assessment skills of practitioners performing well-child and preparticipation exams. The act takes effect January 1, 2027.