Senior advocates and Rhode Island lawmakers have expressed concern that a proposal by Governor to overhaul RIte Care, the state's Medicaid program, could create a "catastrophe" for 186,000 state residents enrolled in the program.

Rhode Island initiative consists of a series of meetings to consider health care proposals and make recommendations to the 2008 General Assembly.

Rhode Island requires businesses that have more than 25 or more employees to offer an opportunity for the workers to buy health insurance with pre-tax income.