Healthcare

in committee · New Hampshire · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 1281: establishing standards for the training of comfort dogs.

HB 1281 establishes certification standards for "facility comfort dogs" used by public agencies like hospitals, schools, and emergency services to provide emotional support. It requires these dogs to earn an American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen certificate by 18 months and complete quarterly training, while banning prong/electronic collars during deployment. Handlers must obtain specific certifications including Mental Health First Aid and Emergency First Aid for Dogs, and agencies must maintain detailed training records. The bill also sets care standards, such as prohibiting raw diets, requiring spaying/neutering, and mandating retirement policies for the dogs. These requirements directly affect public safety agencies, their handlers, and the comfort dogs they deploy.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires Mental Health First Aid certification for handlers and standardizes comfort dog use in hospitals/schools, directly supporting mental health services in healthcare settings.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · New Hampshire · House Aug 21, 2026

HB 1813: relative to changes to health carrier contracts with providers.

HB 1813 requires health insurance carriers to provide participating healthcare providers and facilities with 60 days' notice before making changes to their contracts, limiting such changes to four times per year on January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1. The bill mandates that carriers include redlined copies showing changes (with additions underlined/bolded and deletions struck through) and, for changes affecting over $500,000 in total annual reimbursement, provide a financial impact estimate to both providers and the Insurance Department. This directly affects health carriers and their contracted providers by increasing transparency and giving providers more time to review significant contract modifications. Exceptions include mutual agreements between carriers and providers, changes required by government rules, or updates to standard medical coding. The law takes effect 60 days after passage.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires insurers to provide 60-day notice, redlined contracts, and financial impact estimates for major changes, protecting provider stability and patient access to care.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · New Hampshire · Senate Mar 6, 2026

SB 546: relative to health carrier network access monitoring.

SB 546 requires health insurance carriers offering commercial plans in New Hampshire to implement annual secret shopper audits starting January 2027. These audits, conducted by independent third parties, assess whether providers in carriers' networks are accessible and accepting new patients, following federal CMS guidelines for health benefit exchanges. Carriers must submit results by May 31 each year, with penalties for failing to report, confirming fewer than 80% of providers as in-network, or not meeting network access standards. Noncompliant carriers face fines, must reimburse enrollees for out-of-network claims, and may be required to create corrective action plans. The law directly affects all health insurers selling commercial coverage in New Hampshire.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires annual audits to ensure health carriers maintain accessible provider networks (80% in-network), directly improving patient access to care per CMS guidelines.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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passed · New Hampshire · Senate Aug 21, 2026

SB 606: relative to insurance coverage for biomarker testing.

SB 606 requires health insurance plans and Medicaid to cover biomarker testing for diagnosis, treatment, or monitoring of diseases when the test has clinical utility and is supported by evidence like FDA approvals, drug labels, or medical guidelines. It applies to all health benefit plans issued on or after January 1, 2027, and mandates Medicaid coverage under similar standards. The bill limits disruptions in care (e.g., requiring multiple biopsies) and sets strict timelines for prior authorization decisions - 72 hours for urgent cases and 14 days for non-urgent requests. It also ensures patients and providers have a clear, accessible process to appeal coverage denials through health insurers' websites.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance/Medicaid coverage for biomarker testing, expanding patient access to evidence-based diagnostics without prior authorization barriers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid

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died · New Hampshire · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 1559: increases the percentage allocation of New Hampshire's gaming revenue to problem gaming services.

HB 1559 increases the percentage of New Hampshire's video lottery revenue allocated to problem gambling services from 0.25% to 1%. Specifically, it requires video lottery terminal (VLT) licensees to distribute 1% of their gross revenue to the state's addiction, treatment, and prevention fund. This fund directly supports services for individuals struggling with gambling addiction, including counseling and prevention programs. The change becomes effective 60 days after the bill is enacted.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects 0.25% to 1% of VLT revenue to problem gambling services fund, increasing funding for addiction treatment programs.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates 1% of gaming revenue to gambling addiction treatment/prevention services, directly funding mental health care under healthcare policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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failed · New Hampshire · Senate May 14, 2026

SB 646: relative to mental health standards of care.

SB 646 requires New Hampshire insurance companies to provide equal coverage for 9 specific biologically-based mental illnesses (like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression) as they do for physical health conditions. It mandates that coverage terms and reimbursement rates for these mental health services must align with New Hampshire Medicaid's scope and rates, not just federal parity standards. The bill also requires insurers to publicly report comparative analyses of mental health vs. medical provider reimbursements and ensures reimbursement rates for mental health providers are at least as favorable as those for primary care physicians. This applies to all health insurers, nonprofit health service corporations, and health maintenance organizations operating in New Hampshire, with enforcement by the state insurance commissioner. The bill does not provide new state funding for implementation.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates equal insurance coverage for 9 mental illnesses as physical health, aligning with Medicaid standards to strengthen access and parity for mental health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Mental Health Primary Care

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passed both · New Hampshire · House Jul 10, 2026

HB 1219: relative to immunization requirements in foster family homes and relative to financial eligibility for the Medicare savings program.

HB 1219 prevents foster family homes from imposing immunization requirements on children or foster parents that are stricter than those in RSA 141-C:20-a. Specifically, it prohibits requirements exceeding the standard for vaccine type, number of doses, or exemption policies already established for the general population. This bill directly affects foster children and foster parents by aligning their immunization standards with statewide requirements. The law amends RSA 170-E:27-b to ensure foster homes cannot mandate additional or more stringent vaccinations than what is required for children in public schools or the general community.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAligns foster home immunization with statewide public health standards, preventing unnecessary restrictions on vaccine access for foster children and parents.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicare

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in committee · New Hampshire · House Aug 21, 2026

HB 1347: relative to health care provider networks and referrals.

HB 1347 prevents health care facilities (like hospitals and clinics) from blocking referrals from outside primary care doctors when both the facility and specialist accept the patient's insurance. It directly affects patients seeking specialist care and health care facilities that previously restricted such referrals. The bill requires facilities to accept these referrals if insurance is accepted, and violations can result in $100,000 fines per incident or loss of nonprofit status. Enforcement is handled by the attorney general, with the law taking effect 60 days after passage.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents healthcare facilities from blocking referrals when insurance is accepted, improving patient access to specialists and protecting patient rights in healthcare.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Primary Care

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in committee · New Hampshire · House Jan 21, 2026

HB 1476: permitting third-party payment for point-of-entry treatment system and water line installation to expand access to clean drinking water.

HB 1476 allows homeowners to use third-party funding (like from nonprofits, companies, or government programs) to pay for installing point-of-entry water treatment systems or connecting to public water lines. This directly helps residents in areas lacking clean drinking water who cannot afford these installations themselves. The bill requires written agreements between third parties and property owners, ensures systems meet safety standards, and clarifies that such payments do not count as loans unless structured as such. It also ensures the state cannot block these installations solely because a third party covers the cost, while preserving eligibility for existing state or federal water assistance programs.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill expands access to clean drinking water systems, directly advancing environmental protection by ensuring safe water quality and reducing pollution risks in underserved areas.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands access to clean drinking water, a public health necessity, directly supporting community health outcomes and public health program goals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water

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failed · New Hampshire · House Feb 12, 2026

HB 1443: allowing retired state employees to defer earned retirement medical benefits to their surviving spouse.

HB 1443 clarifies that surviving spouses of retired state employees are automatically covered under the same medical benefit plan that the retiree was enrolled in, specifically for Medicare-eligible retirees. The bill amends state law to explicitly state that the state’s payment for retiree medical premiums applies to both the retired employee and their spouse for life. This change ensures surviving spouses qualify for continued coverage without needing separate enrollment, confirming existing policy rather than creating new benefits. The fiscal note states this clarification has no additional cost to the state, as surviving spouses were already eligible under current rules.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnsures automatic, lifelong medical coverage continuation for spouses of Medicare-eligible retirees without separate enrollment, protecting existing benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicare

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