Healthcare

failed · New Hampshire · Senate May 7, 2026

SB 422: relative to membership of the governor's commission on addiction, treatment, and prevention.

SB 422 expands the governor's commission on addiction, treatment, and prevention by adding two new public members: one with expertise in gaming addiction and one representing long-term recovery. It also changes the status of the faith-based community representative from non-voting to a voting member. The bill modifies the commission's membership structure under state law to include these additions, increasing the total public members from seven to nine. These changes directly affect the commission's composition and decision-making process for addressing addiction-related policies. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAdds addiction treatment/recovery experts to commission, strengthening public health initiatives for addiction services per bill's focus on treatment/prevention.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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signed · New Hampshire · Senate Jun 24, 2026

SB 607: relative to short-term, limited duration health insurance policies

SB 607 aligns New Hampshire's rules with federal limits for short-term health insurance policies. It prohibits insurers from offering these policies for more than the maximum duration permitted under federal law, removing previous state-specific limits (like the 6-month cap and 540-day total coverage restriction). This directly affects consumers seeking temporary health coverage and insurance companies selling these policies in New Hampshire. The bill ensures state regulations do not allow longer coverage periods than federal guidelines permit. It becomes effective January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves state-specific limits on short-term insurance duration, aligning with federal standards to expand consumer access to temporary health coverage options.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

signed · New Hampshire · Senate Jul 9, 2026

SB 550: relative to insurance coverage for services provided by naturopathy providers.

SB 550 requires group health insurance policies issued in New Hampshire to cover services provided by licensed naturopathy providers when the same type of service would be covered if performed by another healthcare provider. This applies directly to insurers offering group health plans and patients seeking naturopathy care. The bill mandates that insurers cannot apply higher copays, deductibles, or coinsurance for these services compared to other covered treatments. It takes effect 60 days after passage and does not require insurers to cover new services, only those already covered under equivalent provider types. The fiscal note indicates potential small premium increases but no determinable state or local cost impact.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for naturopathy services with parity to other providers, expanding access without higher copays/deductibles.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

signed · New Hampshire · Senate Jul 9, 2026

SB 544: relative to managed care laws.

SB 544 prevents health insurance companies from removing drugs from their coverage lists mid-year. It requires insurers to continue covering any prescription drug that was approved under a policy until the enrollee's next plan renewal date, even if the drug is later removed from the formulary. This directly affects individuals enrolled in health benefit plans who rely on specific medications. Changes to drug coverage can only occur at renewal dates and must apply uniformly to all similar plans.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents mid-year removal of prescription drugs from insurance formularies, ensuring continuity of coverage and protecting patient access to necessary medications without sudden changes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Prescription Drugs

died · New Hampshire · House Feb 25, 2026

HB 1316: restricting the collection and disclosure of autism-related data by state agencies.

HB 1316 restricts New Hampshire state agencies from collecting or disclosing personally identifiable autism-related data (such as an individual's autism diagnosis) unless the data is used for specific, limited purposes like administering benefits, providing medical care, or complying with education laws. Agencies must ensure any data collection complies with federal privacy laws (like HIPAA) and avoid using data scraping technology. Disclosure outside state government requires the individual’s or guardian’s written consent, court order, or necessity for essential services like education or healthcare. The bill explicitly preserves existing disability protections under federal laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act and IDEA.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRestricts data collection/disclosure to protect patient privacy, aligning with patient rights protection in healthcare policies.85% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRestricts data scraping technology use for privacy, limiting a specific tech application per bill's explicit language.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Data Privacy

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died · New Hampshire · House Feb 25, 2026

HB 1179: relative to minimum nursing home staffing standards.

HB 1179 sets minimum staffing requirements for nursing homes in New Hampshire, directly affecting licensed facilities and their residents. The bill mandates 24-hour registered nurse (RN) coverage, a minimum of 0.75 RN hours per resident daily, 0.55 licensed practical nurse (LPN) hours per resident daily, and a total of 4.1 nursing hours per resident daily. These standards apply to all nursing homes licensed under RSA 151:9 and take effect 60 days after enactment. The law establishes concrete, measurable staffing targets without specifying enforcement mechanisms or penalties.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates specific nursing staffing levels (RN/LPN hours) to improve resident care standards in nursing homes, directly strengthening healthcare service quality and patient safety.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates minimum nurse staffing ratios (0.75 RN/0.55 LPN hours per resident), directly improving workplace safety and employment standards for nursing home staff.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Long-Term Care

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passed both · New Hampshire · House May 21, 2026

HB 1449: limiting times vaccine clinics may operate at schools, with certain exceptions.

HB 1449 prohibits vaccination clinics from operating at public elementary or secondary schools during school hours and requires a parent or legal guardian to be present with their child during any vaccination administered at such a clinic. The bill directly affects students receiving school-based vaccines, parents/guardians, and school staff coordinating these clinics. Key provisions include banning school-hour clinics and mandating parental accompaniment for immunizations, while exempting school nurses' existing duties under RSA 200:38. This policy change modifies how school vaccination events are scheduled and administered, without altering vaccine requirements or eligibility.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRestricts school-based vaccine access by banning school-hour clinics and requiring parental presence, limiting public health program participation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Primary Care Public Health

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in committee · New Hampshire · House Mar 5, 2026

HB 1292: expanding the right to try act to include certain qualifying severe illness and permitting certain regenerative stem cell therapies under the act.

HB 1292 expands New Hampshire's Right to Try Act to allow patients with "qualifying severe illness" access to unapproved treatments. The bill adds new rules for regenerative stem cell therapies, requiring patient consent, facility accreditation, and clear advertising disclosures. It specifically prohibits the use of stem cells derived from fetal or embryonic sources after an abortion. This policy change directly affects New Hampshire residents with severe illnesses who seek experimental treatments not yet approved by the FDA.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands patient access to unapproved treatments for severe illnesses under strict safeguards, improving healthcare access for vulnerable populations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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failed · New Hampshire · Senate Apr 23, 2026

SB 543: relative to long-term care eligibility and making an appropriation therefor.

SB 543 establishes provisional eligibility for Medicaid nursing facility services in New Hampshire, directly affecting long-term care applicants and nursing facilities. The bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to grant temporary coverage within 90 days of application submission if a facility agrees to comply with program terms, without waiting for full application completion. This provisional status lasts up to 18 months or until a final eligibility decision, with facilities receiving payments during this period and required to reimburse funds if final approval is denied. The bill appropriates $1 for the 2026-2027 biennium to fund this program and creates two new positions within the department to manage it (per RSA 167:8).

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates funds for Medicaid nursing facility provisional coverage, directly funding essential long-term care services.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes provisional Medicaid nursing facility eligibility, reducing wait times for long-term care access and expanding patient coverage under public health program.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Long-Term Care Medicaid

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failed · New Hampshire · House Mar 13, 2026

HB 1760: repealing the directive that the department of health and human services seek a waiver to establish pharmacy copayment and premium requirements under the state Medicaid plan and making an appropriation therefor.

HB 1760 repeals a requirement that the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services seek a waiver to impose pharmacy copayments and premiums on Medicaid beneficiaries, including those in the New Hampshire Advantage Health Care Program and the Children's Health Insurance Program. It removes specific law sections (2025, 141:65; RSA 126-AA:2-a; and RSA 126-A:3, IX) that would have mandated these cost-sharing measures. The bill appropriates funds to the Department of Health and Human Services to cover the resulting revenue shortfall for the 2026-2027 biennium. This change directly eliminates new costs for Medicaid participants while maintaining program funding stability.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRepeals Medicaid copayment requirement and appropriates state funds to cover costs, directly funding Medicaid without beneficiary cost-sharing.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRepeals Medicaid copayment/premium mandates, eliminating cost barriers for beneficiaries and improving access to care under state Medicaid programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Revenue Children's Health Insurance Medicaid

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