Healthcare

in committee · New Hampshire · House Aug 21, 2026

HB 1638: creating a bypass mechanism for health insurer step therapy protocols when medically necessary.

HB 1638 creates a process for healthcare providers to bypass step therapy protocols when a patient's condition requires it, directly affecting patients and providers in insurance plans that use step therapy. Step therapy typically forces patients to try less expensive medications first before coverage is provided for more expensive alternatives. The bill requires step therapy protocols to be based on updated clinical guidelines developed by expert panels and mandates that insurers must grant an override request when providers demonstrate medical necessity, including conditions like advanced cancer or serious mental illness. This establishes a clear, evidence-based pathway to avoid unnecessary treatment delays without altering existing insurance coverage rules.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates insurers to bypass step therapy protocols when medically necessary, improving patient access to required treatments and directly addressing a barrier in healthcare coverage.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Mental Health Prescription Drugs

Track

passed · New Hampshire · Senate Aug 21, 2026

SB 498: relative to children's mental health services for persons 18 years of age and younger.

SB 498 creates the New Hampshire Children's Behavioral Health Association to fund mental health services for children under 18. The association will collect mandatory assessments (fees) from insurance companies, stop-loss carriers, and third-party administrators covering children in the state, excluding Medicaid recipients. Funds gathered will be deposited into a dedicated fund managed by the insurance commissioner and used to pay care management entities providing specific services like intensive in-home therapy, structured outpatient programs, and care coordination. This directly affects insurers (who pay assessments), care management organizations (who receive payments), and children under 18 with covered health plans (who gain access to funded services).

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates mandatory funding for children's mental health services via insurance assessments, directly advancing healthcare access for minors under 18.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Mental Health

Track

in committee · New Hampshire · House Feb 12, 2026

HB 1755: relative to the 340B discounted drug purchasing program.

HB 1755 requires New Hampshire hospitals and clinics participating in the federal 340B drug discount program to annually report detailed financial data to the state Department of Health and Human Services and the Attorney General. This includes costs of drugs purchased under the program, payments received, how savings are used for charity care or community health services, and patient demographics broken down by payer type (e.g., Medicaid, uninsured). The report must cover all 340B-covered entities with a New Hampshire service address, including offsite facilities. The state will compile and share aggregated data with the legislature to increase transparency around how program savings benefit patients.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates reporting on 340B savings allocation for charity care/community health, ensuring funds directly support healthcare access and underserved populations.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

Track

failed · New Hampshire · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 1070: relative to the involuntary emergency admission process.

HB 1070 mandates that individuals placed in protective custody for suspected mental health crises must be transported by ambulance to a hospital or designated mental health site for evaluation, rather than by law enforcement. This applies directly to people experiencing acute mental health emergencies who are deemed a danger to themselves or others. The bill requires emergency medical technicians to provide care during transport, sets a 6-hour limit for protective custody, and allows law enforcement to override ambulance transport only if the individual poses a safety risk to medical personnel. It does not change eligibility criteria for involuntary admission but standardizes the initial transport process for mental health evaluations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeShifts mental health crisis response from law enforcement to medical personnel, reducing criminalization of mental health issues and aligning with reform goals.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates medical transport (ambulance/EMTs) for mental health crises, sets 6-hour limit, requires medical care during transport, improving access to mental health evaluation and protecting patient rights.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Hospitals Mental Health

Track

passed · New Hampshire · Senate Aug 21, 2026

SB 647: authorizing the department of insurance to participate in a cooperative procurement group via an intergovernmental agreement for a prescription drug discount program.

SB 647 authorizes New Hampshire's Department of Insurance to join a cooperative group with other states to secure lower prices on prescription drugs through a discount program. The bill enables the department to form an intergovernmental agreement for this purpose, requiring approval from the governor and executive council. This would directly affect the Department of Insurance's operations and potentially reduce prescription drug costs for state residents. The program would take effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAuthorizes cooperative drug discount program to lower prescription costs, improving patient access to medications and reducing financial barriers for state residents.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

Track

in committee · New Hampshire · House Aug 21, 2026

HB 1231: requiring health care providers to disclose medical services billed to the patient's insurance carrier.

HB 1231 requires health care providers (like hospitals, clinics, and doctors) to give patients a detailed written or electronic statement within 15 business days after billing their insurance. The statement must list each medical service provided, the date, billing codes, amounts billed to insurance, what insurance paid or denied, and any remaining patient balance. This directly affects patients receiving care and providers who must disclose billing details they previously may not have shared. The law aims to increase transparency about insurance claims without changing how providers bill insurers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires provider billing transparency to protect patient rights and clarify insurance payments, aligning with patient rights protection under healthcare support.95% confidence

Track

signed · New Hampshire · Senate Jul 21, 2026

SB 402: eliminating certain non-compete agreements for physician associates.

SB 402 eliminates geographic non-compete restrictions in contracts for physician associates in New Hampshire. It makes any agreement preventing a physician associate from practicing in specific areas after employment ends void and unenforceable for new contracts or renewals signed on or after the law's effective date. This directly affects physician associates (healthcare providers working under physician supervision) and their employers by removing barriers to where they can practice following job changes. The law does not impact other contract terms, only the geographic restriction provision, and applies only to agreements entered after the bill takes effect.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves geographic non-compete restrictions for physician associates, improving provider mobility and patient access to care in underserved areas.90% confidence

in committee · New Hampshire · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 1790: relative to involuntary admissions for certain individuals with a substance use disorder.

HB 1790 expands the definition of "mental illness" under New Hampshire law to include impairment primarily caused by substance use disorder (SUD) for involuntary admission purposes. This means individuals with SUD who meet specific danger criteria (such as extreme abnormal behavior or faulty perceptions) could now be subject to involuntary emergency or non-emergency admissions, similar to those with other mental health conditions. The bill explicitly excludes impairment from alcohol dependence, intoxication, epilepsy, or intellectual disability from this expanded definition. It directly affects people with SUD who pose a danger to themselves or others, requiring clinical evaluations and court processes under revised standards. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, with potential impacts on healthcare resources and admission systems.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands involuntary admission criteria for SUD under mental health services, aligning with mental health protections and improving access to crisis care for substance use disorders.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

Track

failed · New Hampshire · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 1812: requiring periodic evaluation of mental health access adequacy by an independent third party.

HB 1812 requires health insurers in New Hampshire to conduct third-party evaluations of mental health network adequacy every three years. These evaluations must measure appointment availability (within 7-14 days), ensure at least 70% of appointments are in-person, and assess provider distribution by specialty (like psychiatry and child services) across the state. The bill directly affects health insurers, mandating they report findings to regulators and the public, with violations subject to administrative fines up to $5,000 per covered person. It aims to ensure mental health services are accessible without unreasonable delays, particularly for vulnerable groups like those with substance use disorders or developmental disabilities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates third-party evaluations of mental health network adequacy to ensure timely appointments (7-14 days), in-person access (70%+), and specialty provider distribution, improving patient access to mental health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

Track

signed · New Hampshire · House Aug 5, 2026

HB 1554: requiring insurance carriers to provide peer-to-peer review at any stage of prior authorization and mandating disclosure of reviewer credentials.

HB 1554 requires health insurance companies to offer peer-to-peer reviews at any stage of the prior authorization process, allowing doctors to discuss medical necessity directly with a qualified medical expert. Insurers must disclose the reviewer’s full name, license details, issuing state, and National Provider Identifier (NPI) to the doctor before the review begins. The bill mandates that reviews be scheduled within 2 business days for initial requests or 5 business days after a denial, with written decisions provided promptly. This applies to all health insurance plans and aims to increase transparency and timely decision-making for doctors and patients seeking coverage.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates transparent peer-to-peer reviews and timely insurer disclosures, improving patient access to necessary care by reducing arbitrary denials.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance