Filed Date: Nov. 13, 2024
Case Ongoing
Clearinghouse coding complete
This is a case about healthcare access for Medicaid-eligible youth in Rhode Island. On November 13, 2024, ten Medicaid-eligible minors brought a class action suit, filed in the U.S. District Court in Rhode Island, against the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth, and Families, as well as the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, for failure to provide adequate treatment for Medicaid-eligible children and youth in Rhode Island with significant behavioral health needs. Plaintiffs sought to include in their class action all current and future Medicaid-eligible children in Rhode Island under 21-years-old who had been diagnosed with a serious emotional disturbance (“SED”) and for whom Intensive Home and Community-Based Services had been advised. Plaintiffs brought suit under the Medicaid Act, 42 U.S.C. 42 U.S.C. §§ 1396, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 12101, and §504 of the Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. § 794, to seek injunctive relief requiring defendants to provide Intensive Home and Community-Based Services and prevent themselves or similarly-situated minors from institutionalization in hospitals and congregate care settings. Their complaint alleged that defendants’ failure to provide such services resulted in the institutionalization of minors in restrictive environments such as psychiatric hospitals and congregate care settings. The case was assigned to District Judge Melissa R. DuBose.
As of February 2025, the case is ongoing.
Summary Authors
Keren Yi (3/9/2025)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69369648/parties/jel-v-charest/
Bartosz, Samantha (Rhode Island)
Iyer, Aarti (Rhode Island)
Kinney, Madeleine MacNeil (Rhode Island)
Arguin, James J. (Rhode Island)
Kidd, Jeff (Rhode Island)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69369648/jel-v-charest/
Last updated Oct. 20, 2025, 11:01 p.m.
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Healthcare Access and Reproductive Issues
Key Dates
Filing Date: Nov. 13, 2024
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Plaintiffs are Medicaid-eligible youth in Rhode Island, who were diagnosed with a serious emotional disturbance and, in some instances, with co-occurring developmental disability. Plaintiffs sought to include in their class action all current and future Medicaid-eligible children in Rhode Island diagnosed with SED and for whom Intensive Home and Community-Based Services had been advised.
Attorney Organizations:
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: Yes
Class Action Outcome: Unknown
Defendants
Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families, State
Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services, State
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Ex parte Young (federal or state officials)
Other Dockets:
District of Rhode Island 1:24-cv-00471
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Issues
Disability and Disability Rights:
Developmental disability without intellectual disability
Intellectual/developmental disability, unspecified
Medical/Mental Health Care: