Rhode Island Department of Health

What Rhode Island Department of Health does

Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) is the state government agency responsible for protecting and promoting public health for approximately 1.1 million Rhode Island residents. RIDOH operates a comprehensive portfolio of public health programs spanning disease surveillance and outbreak response, immunizations, maternal and child health (WIC), chronic disease prevention, environmental health, emergency preparedness, vital records administration, healthcare facility licensing, and laboratory testing services. The agency's technical infrastructure centers on extensive health data systems, including the HealthFacts RI All-Payer Claims Database (collecting claims from Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial payers), the Rhode Island Cancer Registry, the RICAIR immunization registry, BRFSS/YRBS surveys, and more than 70 specialized data programs, many surfaced through ArcGIS-based interactive dashboards and Power BI reports.

RIDOH's service delivery operates across four physical locations (Cannon Building headquarters, State Health Laboratories, Center for Vital Records, and Office of State Medical Examiners), an online license renewal portal, the NextRequest public records portal, a mobile application (WIC Shopper), and a network of 14 WIC local agencies plus all Rhode Island birthing hospitals for community-based program delivery. Technology integrations include HL7 messaging standards (versions 2.3.1 and 2.5.1), ICD-10 coding, eWIC electronic benefit transfer (statewide since September 2020), and partnerships with federal agencies including CDC, FDA, and USDA for surveillance, food safety, and avian influenza monitoring.

RIDOH's funding model is government appropriations-based: state general funds, federal block grants (CDC's Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant), and federal program administration funds (USDA for WIC). Direct fee revenue is limited and ancillary, including public records request charges ($0.15 per page plus $15/hour search), laboratory testing fees for private well and pool water samples, and licensing fees for health professionals and facilities. The vast majority of services are provided free of charge to Rhode Island residents. RIDOH operates without commercial revenue, equity ownership, or external funding rounds.

Name

Rhode Island Department of Health

Legal name

Rhode Island Department of Health

Website

https://health.ri.gov

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Rhode Island Department of Health is the state government agency responsible for protecting and promoting public health for all Rhode Island residents through disease surveillance, immunizations, WIC nutrition programs, laboratory testing, vital records, and healthcare facility licensing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Public Health Services

NAICS

Administration of Public Health Programs (923120), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) & Equity Measurement (HLAJAJAI)

Keywords

• Public health services
• Disease surveillance
• Vital records administration
• Health data analytics
• Public health regulation

Headquarters

HQ city

Providence

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Federal Block Grants: RIDOH receives flexible funding from CDC's Center for State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Support through the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant, used to fill critical gaps not covered by other federal or state programs and pilot innovative public health approaches.
2. Public Records Fees: Cost per copied page of written public documents at $0.15 per page and an hourly rate not exceeding $15.00 per hour for search and retrieval, with no charge for the first hour.
3. Laboratory Testing Fees: Fees for clinical specimen testing, drinking water testing from private wells and public water systems, pool water testing, and other environmental health samples. Payment required at drop-off for private well and pool water testing.
4. State General Funds: State-appropriated funding for public health programs and services delivered to Rhode Island residents.
5. WIC Program Administration: Federal supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children providing nutritious foods, nutrition education, and referrals to healthcare and social services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

RIDOH is the state government public health authority that delivers disease prevention, health promotion, environmental health protection, vital records administration, laboratory testing, and emergency preparedness services to Rhode Island residents. It operates health data surveillance systems, nutrition programs (WIC), chronic disease screening programs, and regulatory oversight for healthcare facilities, food establishments, and health professionals, serving the state's approximately 1.1 million residents through physical offices, online portals, and 14 WIC local agency partners.

Product overview

Rhode Island Department of Health operates as a comprehensive public health agency offering a platform of interconnected programs and services organized around data-driven public health surveillance, disease prevention, health promotion, and emergency preparedness. The portfolio includes: (1) Health Data & Surveillance Systems such as HealthFacts RI (All-Payer Claims Database), Cancer Registry, Immunization Registry (RICAIR), BRFSS, YRBS, and dozens of specialized data dashboards for conditions from diabetes to climate change; (2) Nutrition Programs including the WIC Program with eWIC electronic benefits and the WIC Shopper mobile app; (3) Chronic Disease Prevention including WISEWOMAN, diabetes prevention (Ready for Health), cancer screening programs, and asthma/cardiovascular health initiatives; (4) Laboratory & Environmental Services including State Health Laboratories, beach/water testing, and the Healthy Homes & Environment Center; (5) Emergency Preparedness & Response capabilities; and (6) Vital Records and professional licensing services. These products operate both independently and in coordination—for example, data systems like HealthFacts RI support population health analysis that informs chronic disease programs, while the WIC Shopper app and eWIC system represent technology-enabled benefit delivery mechanisms. The department also provides regulatory oversight through the Institutional Review Board and public records access systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• WIC Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Education Program Federal nutrition program safeguarding the health of low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutrition risk, providing nutritional assessment, healthy food benefits through eWIC EBT cards, nutrition education, and referrals. Delivered through 14 WIC local agencies across Rhode Island.
• WISEWOMAN Program Program providing additional preventative health services to women aged 40-64 enrolled in the Women's Cancer Screening Program or RI Medicaid to reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and hypertension through lifestyle support and screening.
• State Health Laboratories Testing Services Comprehensive laboratory testing services including clinical specimen testing, drinking water analysis from public water systems, beach and pool water quality testing, food, dairy, and shellfish testing, animal specimens for rabies, and forensic testing for public health protection.
• Center for Vital Records Services Division processing requests for and issuing certified copies of birth, death, marriage, and adoption certificates for Rhode Island residents, available in person at the Cranston office, by mail, and online.
• Office of State Medical Examiners Statutory office determining cause and manner of death for deaths occurring in Rhode Island under circumstances including infectious disease deaths, mass casualty events, and suspicious causes, providing autopsy and death investigation services.
• Emergency Preparedness and Response Center Program coordinating public health emergency preparedness and response capabilities across Rhode Island, including hospital preparedness, medical countermeasure distribution systems, the special needs emergency registry, and response to events such as the FIFA World Cup 2026 protection activities.
• Family Visiting Program Free home visiting service supporting pregnant Rhode Islanders and parents with children up to age three, providing breastfeeding education, parental support, and connections to community resources.
• Breastfeeding Support Services Comprehensive breastfeeding support including hospital telephone support lines at all Rhode Island birthing hospitals, lactation consultations, support groups, breast pump coverage information, and workplace lactation protections.
• Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program Screening program providing breast and cervical cancer early detection services to eligible women in Rhode Island meeting income and age criteria, including screening mammograms, Pap tests, and HPV tests.
• Colorectal Cancer Prevention Program Program focused on colorectal cancer screening, early detection, and prevention among Rhode Island residents, including community outreach, screening navigation, and education services.
• Ready for Health Diabetes Prevention Program Evidence-based National Diabetes Prevention Program offering cohorts and lifestyle change programs for Rhode Islanders with prediabetes to prevent type 2 diabetes through structured year-long curriculum.
• Center for Healthy Homes and Environment Program addressing environmental health hazards in homes including lead poisoning prevention, radon control, asbestos information, mold prevention, bed bug management, and carbon monoxide safety, along with rental registry services.
• Work Safer RI Health and Safety Consultation Program Free and confidential workplace health and safety consultation service for small Rhode Island businesses with up to 250 employees, providing air and noise sampling, facility inspections, hazard identification, and OSHA compliance guidance.
• HealthFacts RI Database (All-Payer Claims Database) Rhode Island's All-Payer Claims Database (APCD) that systematically collects healthcare claims data from Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial payers to support public health analysis and decision-making, with data access provided through formal data use agreements and applications.
• Institutional Review Board (IRB) Services Board that reviews project plans involving collection or distribution of information about human subjects in Rhode Island public health research, ensuring compliance with Office for Human Research Protection federal regulations.
• Health Professional and Facility Licensing State licensing authority for health professionals, healthcare facilities, food establishments, and laboratories operating in Rhode Island, with license renewal available online via the RIDOH licensing portal and per the Fee Structure for Licensing, Laboratory and Administrative Services (216-RICR-10-05-2).
• Public Records Request Services Access to Public Records Act request system allowing citizens to inspect and obtain copies of public records from the Department of Health via the NextRequest online portal, mail, fax, or in person, at $0.15 per copied page and $15.00 per hour for search and retrieval.
• Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant Program Flexible CDC funding mechanism enabling Rhode Island to design and implement public health strategies addressing chronic and infectious disease prevention, healthy lifestyles, local public health infrastructure, and preventive health services, with priorities set annually in coordination with the Rhode Island Prevention Block Grant Advisory Committee.
• RIDOH Private Well Special Testing Map Tool Interactive ArcGIS mapping tool for private well owners to locate testing resources and view water quality testing data across Rhode Island.
• Beach Viewer Interactive ArcGIS tool for viewing beach locations and water quality data in Rhode Island, supporting public beach advisory decisions.
• Wastewater Monitoring Surveillance Service Online interactive wastewater monitoring data system tracking flu, COVID-19, and RSV levels in Rhode Island communities to provide early warning of disease trends.

Quantifiable outcome

• Rhode Island recorded $42.1 million in combined regulated cannabis activity in Q1 2026
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rhode Island Prevention Block Grant Advisory CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRIDOH partners with the Advisory Committee annually to set PHHS Block Grant funding priorities and review applications. Together they use a data-informed approach to determine which proposed projects best meet community needs.
• Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode IslandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the RI Moms Psychiatric Resource Network (MomsPRN) program which provides teleconsultations and resource/referral support for pregnant and postpartum women facing mental health challenges.
• Care Transformation Collaborative of RIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the MomsPRN program alongside Women & Infants Hospital, helping address gaps in mental healthcare for pregnant and postpartum individuals.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDC provides PHHS Block Grant funding and technical assistance. RIDOH also coordinates Ebola monitoring for travelers from impacted African countries through CDC partnerships.
• Food and Drug Administration (FDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFDA partners with RIDOH on food safety investigations including recalls and outbreak responses such as the infant botulism case linked to ByHeart formula.
• US Department of Agriculture (USDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSDA conducts routine quarterly testing for avian influenza; positive tests confirmed through USDA laboratory analysis trigger state public health responses.
• Farm Fresh RIcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFarm Fresh RI services WIC farmers markets statewide, enabling WIC participants to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at local farmers markets.
• Rhode Island HospitalscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAll Rhode Island birthing hospitals provide telephone breastfeeding support services and collaborate on maternal health programs including lactation consultations.
• HealthFacts RI Data PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthFacts RI All-Payer Claims Database receives claims data from Medicare, Medicaid, and RI's largest commercial payers to support health data analysis.
• WIC National Partner OrganizationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with USDA Food and Nutrition Service for WIC program administration and guidelines including breastfeeding promotion and support.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Massachusetts Department of Public Health: Massachusetts' state public health agency, operating comparable functions (disease surveillance, vital records, licensing, WIC, environmental health, laboratory services) in a larger neighboring New England state. Most comparable peer in terms of regulatory structure and program breadth, with greater scale and budget.
• New York State Department of Health: New York's state health department, performing the full spectrum of public health functions including All-Payer Claims Database (NY Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System), WIC, environmental health, and licensing. Much larger in scale but structurally analogous to RIDOH.
• New Jersey Department of Health: New Jersey's state health department with analogous functions (vital records, WIC, disease surveillance, environmental health, facility licensing, All-Payer Claims Database participation). Comparable in regulatory structure but operating at significantly larger scale.
• Pennsylvania Department of Health: Pennsylvania's state health agency providing WIC, vital records, licensing, environmental health, laboratory services, and disease surveillance. Structurally analogous with comparable program breadth but at substantially larger scale.
• California Department of Public Health: California's public health department operating the largest state-level public health programs in the US including WIC, vital records, environmental health, licensing, and laboratory services. Functionally analogous but vastly larger in budget and population served.

Regional players

• Connecticut Department of Public Health: Connecticut's state public health agency performing the same core functions as RIDOH (licensing, vital records, disease surveillance, environmental health, WIC, laboratory testing). Directly comparable in scope and structure as a neighboring New England state department of similar size.
• Vermont Department of Health: Vermont's state public health agency providing comparable services (vital records, WIC, environmental health, licensing, surveillance) in a small neighboring New England state. Highly comparable in scale, program structure, and rural/small-state context.
• New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services: New Hampshire's combined health and human services agency providing public health functions including licensing, WIC, vital records, and environmental health. Comparable in structure but consolidated within a larger umbrella department.
• Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Maine's public health agency operating within DHHS, performing surveillance, licensing, environmental health, WIC, and laboratory testing. Comparable in scale and rural New England context; directly comparable peer in terms of small-state public health operations.

Others

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Federal public health agency providing funding (PHHS Block Grant), technical assistance, and collaborative surveillance programs (BRFSS, YRBS, PRAMS) to RIDOH. Functions as a primary funder and partner rather than a direct competitor, but operates in the same public health domain with overlapping capabilities.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rihealth
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ridohealth
• Facebookfacebook.com/HealthRI
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/state-of-rhode-island
• Instagraminstagram.com/ridohealth

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments1 record

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Frequently asked questions about Rhode Island Department of Health