Healthcare

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

in committee · New Hampshire · Senate Feb 24, 2026

SB 611: relative to rate setting parity for Medicaid state plan case management services.

SB 611 requires New Hampshire's Department of Health and Human Services to annually set Medicaid case management service rates that better reflect actual delivery costs, aiming to eliminate payment disparities. The department must consider factors like cost efficiency, quality of care, and access while addressing disparities such as administrative overhead costs currently paid to certain providers (e.g., for DAADS services). The bill does not provide new funding, and fiscal estimates indicate implementation could cost the state $2.1 million to $6.25 million annually from general funds. This change targets alignment between case management rates and other Medicaid services, without altering eligibility or coverage.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires Medicaid rate adjustments to reflect actual costs, aiming to improve service quality/access by eliminating payment disparities for case management services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

Track

died · New Hampshire · House Aug 20, 2026

HB 1067: relative to the mental health courts.

HB 1067 establishes a state grant program to fund new mental health courts in New Hampshire, requiring counties, districts, or non-profits to apply through a standardized process managed by the judicial branch's Office of the Statewide Treatment Courts. The bill revises mental health court procedures to allow judges to dismiss charges or withhold prosecution upon successful completion of treatment programs, while mandating risk and clinical assessments for participants. It requires the judicial branch to develop application standards, track outcomes like recidivism, and provide training to ensure program effectiveness. The goal is to reduce incarceration costs and improve treatment access for individuals with mental illness through structured court interventions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes grants for mental health courts, allowing charge dismissal upon treatment completion to reduce recidivism and promote rehabilitation through clinical assessments.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds mental health courts via state grants, allowing treatment completion to dismiss charges, directly advancing mental health services and access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Mental Health

Track

failed · New Hampshire · Senate May 14, 2026

SB 455: relative to coverage for GLP-1 medication under the state Medicaid plan.

SB 455 requires health insurance plans in New Hampshire to cover GLP-1 medications (used for weight management and diabetes) for people with a BMI of 40 or higher, or a BMI of 35 or higher with at least one qualifying health condition like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease. This applies to all health benefit plans sold in the state, directly affecting covered individuals who meet these criteria and health insurance companies. The bill mandates coverage without prior authorization for these specific eligibility groups, expanding access beyond current typical commercial coverage standards. It takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for GLP-1 medications under specified BMI criteria, expanding access for weight management/diabetes treatment95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid

Track

passed · New Hampshire · House Mar 26, 2026

HB 1562: relative to licensing requirements for health care facilities that operate on a membership-based business model.

HB 1562 exempts membership-based health care facilities (which charge direct patient payments without insurance reimbursement) from certain licensing rules, including a moratorium on new licenses and bed capacity increases under RSA 151:2. The bill also requires these facilities to adopt a patient bill of rights covering dignity, privacy, and clear admission information, while directing the Department of Health and Human Services to study direct-pay models. It directly affects facilities operating under membership or direct-payment structures, removing them from standard licensing requirements in RSA 151:2-f and RSA 151:2, VI(a). The key change is creating a tailored regulatory framework for these facilities while maintaining core patient rights protections.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExempts membership-based facilities from licensing rules while requiring patient rights protections, aligning with patient access and rights.85% confidence

Track

failed · New Hampshire · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 1635: modifying the requirements of suicide prevention education policies in schools.

HB 1635 modifies New Hampshire school suicide prevention training requirements by requiring all school faculty, staff, and contracted personnel to complete suicide awareness training within 30 days of hire and every two years thereafter (replacing the prior annual requirement). The training must cover youth suicide risk factors, warning signs, response procedures, referrals, and community resources, and may use existing professional development programs or self-training materials. School districts determine how to administer the training, including whether it applies to volunteers per district policy. The bill takes effect September 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates staff suicide awareness training to enhance student safety, aligning with protective education policies in K-12 schools.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates suicide prevention training for school staff, enhancing mental health support in schools through risk factor education and referral protocols.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Mental Health

Track

signed · New Hampshire · House Jul 20, 2026

HB 1772: relative to prescribing ibogaine for investigational use only and adopting the physician associate licensure compact.

HB 1772 creates a New Hampshire grant program within the Department of Health and Human Services to fund state participation in a multistate clinical trial consortium studying ibogaine as a potential treatment for substance use disorder and other neurological or mental health conditions. The bill appropriates $1 (likely a typo for $1 million) to support this effort, requiring grant recipients to be New Hampshire-based entities with proven expertise in neurological/mental health research, matching funds from non-state sources, and FDA-approved trial protocols (including an IND application and breakthrough therapy designation request). Entities must submit quarterly progress and financial reports, and the state must verify matching funds before disbursing grant money. This bill directly affects eligible research institutions participating in the consortium, not the general public.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $1 million (likely typo) for a state grant program under HHS, directly funding a new health research initiative through state budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds clinical trials for ibogaine treatment of substance use disorder and mental health conditions via state grant program, advancing mental health research and treatment options.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Mental Health Substance Abuse