relative to parental alienation, limiting certain prior authorization requirements for physical therapy, occupational therapy, and similar rehabilitative services, relative to children's mental health services for persons 18 years of age and younger.

The bill now also covers limiting prior authorization for physical therapy, occupational therapy, and similar rehabilitative services, and children's mental health services for persons 18 and younger.

Health carriers are prohibited from requiring prior authorization for the first physical or occupational therapy visit in any new episode of care. Insurers must approve at least 8 medically necessary treatments after the initial evaluation before conducting further review. Insurers retain the ability to deny claims they deem not medically necessary.

A new New Hampshire children's behavioral health association is established to collect assessments from insurance carriers, stop loss carriers, and third-party administrators for both fully insured and self-funded health plans. The assessment base includes covered lives in the state employee health plan and pooled risk management programs under RSA 5-b. Collected funds go into a dedicated fund administered by the insurance commissioner to pay care management entities for childhood behavioral health services.