SB 663 creates a working group within New Hampshire's Department of Health and Human Services to study Medicaid reimbursement rates for nursing homes. The group, including state officials and healthcare associations, will examine issues like access to care, staffing needs, infrastructure costs, and fair rate adjustments during ownership changes. It also allocates $5 million for a one-time payment to licensed nursing facilities serving Medicaid patients that saw their daily reimbursement rates drop below 95% of 2025 rates as of January 1, 2026. The working group must submit recommendations by December 2026, with the department having sole discretion over distributing the funds.
SB 612 modifies eligibility rules for nursing facility and home and community-based care under New Hampshire Medicaid by adding "mobility" to the list of activities of daily living (ADLs) considered for qualification. This means applicants must now demonstrate a need for assistance with mobility (such as walking or using a wheelchair) to meet clinical eligibility requirements. The bill also requires the state Department of Health and Human Services to obtain a medical determination of long-term care needs from the applicant’s primary care provider, physician assistant, or advanced practice nurse, and to consider input from other health providers like physical therapists. These changes directly affect Medicaid applicants seeking nursing facility or home-based care services in New Hampshire.
HB 1160 amends the structure and responsibilities of New Hampshire's county-state finance commission, which oversees shared funding between counties and the state for programs like Medicaid long-term care. The bill changes commission membership to include specific state agency representatives, county government appointees, and legislative members, while adding six new duties. Key provisions require the commission to review and recommend changes to Medicaid plans, state rate settings for long-term care services, county billing systems, and funding options before they are finalized. This directly affects counties and state agencies managing shared financial obligations for healthcare and social services programs.
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.
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).
SB 610 revises New Hampshire's long-term care insurance regulations by moving the insurance commissioner's rulemaking authority for loss ratio standards into a new section of the law. It allows the commissioner to approve innovative long-term care policies if they benefit the public and offer reasonable value relative to premiums, while updating criteria for disapproving insurance forms (e.g., removing unreasonable benefits or deceptive pricing). The bill also permits public hearings on form and rate filings, with the commissioner able to limit disclosure of sensitive details during these hearings. These changes directly affect insurers, the insurance commissioner, and long-term care policyholders by streamlining approvals and clarifying regulatory processes.
