Healthcare

in committee · New Hampshire · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 452: enabling health care providers to offer certain complementary and alternative health care services.

SB 452 creates a new legal framework allowing unlicensed practitioners to offer certain complementary and alternative health care services (like acupuncture or nutritional counseling not covered by standard medical practice) without needing state licensing. It directly affects unlicensed providers and their patients, requiring providers to disclose their unlicensed status, share qualifications, and obtain written consent before offering services. The bill prohibits providers from performing surgery, prescribing drugs, manipulating spines, or advising patients to stop licensed medical treatments. It also mandates clear client disclosures about the provider's lack of licensure and maintains existing licensing requirements for standard medical practitioners.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables unlicensed providers to offer complementary services (e.g., acupuncture) with disclosure requirements, expanding patient access to alternative care options without licensing barriers.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing

Track

failed · New Hampshire · House Feb 5, 2026

HB 1747: relative to treatment of perinatal mental health conditions.

This bill requires New Hampshire's Insurance Department to reimburse pregnant Medicaid recipients for mental health screenings each trimester and to pay healthcare providers for advising patients about perinatal mental health resources. It also directs the Department of Health and Human Services to create outreach programs for providers and incentive programs for certified perinatal mental health therapists, requiring two years of employment for reimbursement eligibility. The bill mandates higher Medicaid reimbursement rates for certified providers but does not allocate new state funding for implementation. It directly affects pregnant Medicaid patients and healthcare providers specializing in perinatal mental health.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates Medicaid reimbursement for perinatal mental health screenings, funds outreach programs, and creates therapist incentives - expands access to critical care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Mental Health

Track

signed · New Hampshire · Senate Jun 8, 2026

SB 421: relative to the membership and duties of the trauma medical review committee and establishing a study committee to review the membership and duties of other boards and an appointment related to emergency medical services.

SB 421 amends New Hampshire's trauma medical review committee membership and adds an annual reporting requirement. The bill specifies that the committee must include representatives from all trauma hospital levels (I-IV), emergency medical services groups, trauma nurses, fire services, and a trauma survivor. It also requires the committee to annually report to the governor on trauma hospital locations and levels, committee recommendations for system improvement, and data on leading causes of injury and death from both intentional and unintentional causes. This bill directly affects trauma hospitals, medical providers, emergency services, and injury prevention stakeholders in New Hampshire.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill requires trauma committee to make system improvement recommendations and report on injury data, directly advancing trauma care oversight and quality within healthcare services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

failed · New Hampshire · Senate May 14, 2026

SB 640: relative to the use of artificial intelligence to provide services requiring a professional license.

SB 640 prohibits using artificial intelligence to provide services requiring a professional license (such as psychology, mental health, or substance abuse counseling) unless those services are delivered by a licensed professional. The bill specifically bans AI from replacing human professionals in direct client interactions, though it allows AI for administrative tasks like scheduling or billing. It also authorizes the Office of Professional Licensure to collect fees to cover enforcement costs for violations. This applies to all licensed professions in New Hampshire, with additional specific rules for psychologists and mental health practitioners.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits AI from replacing licensed professionals in direct mental health counseling, protecting patient care quality and safety in mental health services.90% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill prohibits AI from replacing human professionals in direct client interactions for licensed services, restricting AI's application in a specific technology context.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Mental Health Substance Abuse Artificial Intelligence

Track

passed both · New Hampshire · Senate May 21, 2026

SB 504: relative to the practice of pharmacy and the dispensing of certain medications by pharmacists, authorizing the establishment of experimental treatment centers, and permitting treatment of certain severe illness under the right to try act.

SB 504 allows licensed healthcare providers to dispense up to a 30-day supply of certain cancer medications directly to patients under a doctor's supervision, requiring clinics to maintain a full-time pharmacist available for consultation. It removes the requirement for pharmacists' names on controlled drug labels and permits advanced pharmacy technicians to perform remote medication processing. The bill updates the definition of "practice of pharmacy" to include modern services like medication therapy management and collaborative care. These changes streamline access to cancer medications while maintaining safety protocols for pharmacy operations.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables direct dispensing of cancer meds under supervision, requires pharmacist consultation, and streamlines pharmacy processes to improve patient access and safety in medication management.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

Track

failed · New Hampshire · Senate May 14, 2026

SB 480: limiting certain prior authorization requirements for physical therapy, occupational therapy, and similar rehabilitative services.

SB 480 prohibits health insurers from requiring prior authorization for the first 12 visits of physical therapy, occupational therapy, or similar rehabilitative services for each new health condition or condition not treated within the previous 60 days. Patients seeking these therapies and their insurers are directly affected by this change. Insurers may still deny coverage if treatment is determined not to be medically necessary. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves prior authorization barriers for therapy access, improving patient access to covered services without restricting coverage terms.92% confidence

Track

in committee · New Hampshire · Senate Feb 24, 2026

SB 506: relative to community engagement and work requirements under the state Medicaid program.

SB 506 directs New Hampshire's Department of Health and Human Services to implement federal work and community engagement requirements for Medicaid eligibility under the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025." It requires the state to submit a plan to CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) by December 2026, after legislative review, and mandates quarterly reports to lawmakers on implementation progress. The bill suspends existing state law provisions related to these requirements while federal rules are in effect, with automatic reinstatement if federal rules end. It does not provide new state funding or create positions, aligning state Medicaid operations with federal guidelines.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareImplements federal Medicaid work requirements, restricting eligibility and access to coverage under Medicaid program, aligning with defunding/restricting indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Medicare

Track

signed · New Hampshire · Senate Jun 24, 2026

SB 548: relative to health carrier provider contract standards.

SB 548 requires health insurance companies in New Hampshire to hold a public hearing with the insurance commissioner within 15 business days if they terminate a contract with a healthcare provider that would affect 1,000 or more patients. It also mandates that all health insurance provider contracts include a 60-day provision ensuring patients maintain access to their provider after termination (except for unprofessional conduct), and requires insurers and providers to jointly notify affected patients about this access and the hearing. The bill directly affects health insurers, healthcare providers, and patients covered by these contracts. These provisions aim to ensure transparency and continuity of care during contract terminations that impact large groups of patients.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates 60-day patient access continuity during insurer-provider contract terminations and requires joint notifications, directly protecting patient access to care and insurer accountability.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

failed · New Hampshire · Senate Apr 23, 2026

SB 457: relative to the licensing of physicians who graduated from medical schools outside of the United States or Canada.

SB 457 creates a pathway for international physicians trained outside the U.S. or Canada to obtain a temporary license to practice medicine in New Hampshire. To qualify, applicants must provide proof of completed residency or 5+ years of practice abroad, good standing with their home country's medical regulator, English fluency, U.S. work authorization, and a job offer at a healthcare facility with an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited residency program. Temporary license holders may only work at such facilities and must maintain good standing for two years to receive a full, unrestricted license. The bill does not require new state funding or create additional positions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates pathway for international physicians to practice, expanding healthcare access in underserved areas through temporary licensing.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationCreates pathway for immigrant physicians to practice medicine, providing professional services access and aligning with immigrant integration support.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Work Authorization

Track

signed · New Hampshire · House Jul 16, 2026

HB 1469: relative to the licensing requirements for massage therapy establishments.

HB 1469 requires massage therapy businesses employing more than one therapist to obtain a state license and undergo regular inspections by the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC). The bill establishes new health and safety standards for these businesses, including requirements for direct supervision by licensed therapists and procedures for license renewal and disciplinary actions. It also adds compensation for members of the massage therapists' advisory board and creates a new investigative paralegal position within the OPLC, with funding provided for this role. This legislation directly affects massage therapy businesses, the OPLC, and the advisory board by expanding regulatory oversight and operational requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly makes an appropriation for OPLC inspections and advisory board compensation, directly funding new regulatory requirements under licensing provisions.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRegulates massage therapy businesses with health/safety standards, enhancing service quality and client safety in healthcare services.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires health/safety standards for massage therapy workplaces, directly improving workplace safety regulations for employees.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Professional Licensing