creating a Medicaid methodology working group within the department of health and human services.

The bill title and running page headers were updated from 'AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE' to 'VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES,' indicating the bill received final approval from both legislative chambers. No policy language was changed.

House representation on the working group increased from one member to three members, with two required to be from the majority party and one from the minority party, as appointed by the speaker of the house.

A new member was added to the working group: an administrator at a private or publicly funded nursing home, appointed by the governor. This gives direct nursing home operator representation on the group.

The working group is now explicitly exempt from RSA 14:49 (New Hampshire's open meetings law), meaning it can meet in closed session without public notice requirements.

Section 2 was deleted in its entirety. It had appropriated $5,000,000 for fiscal year ending June 30, 2026 as a one-time general fund payment to licensed nursing facilities serving Medicaid patients whose new daily reimbursement rate (as of January 1, 2026) fell below 95% of their July 1, 2025 rate. DHHS would have had sole discretion over distribution.

The fiscal note changed from showing $5 million in FY 2026 expenditures and appropriations (General Fund) to stating the bill has no fiscal impact on state, county, or local expenditures or revenue.

The bill's title and scope were narrowed from creating a working group AND making an appropriation for nursing facilities to only creating the working group. The effective date section was renumbered from Section 3 to Section 2.