This bill requires health insurance providers in New Hampshire to cover glucose monitoring devices and supplies for individuals with Type 2 diabetes or gestational diabetes. It mandates coverage for both traditional blood glucose monitors and continuous glucose monitoring systems (CGMS) without requiring prior authorization, endocrinology referrals, or deductibles. Insurers must cover these devices as part of diabetes treatment, with follow-up care required at least once every 6 months for the first 18 months and then once annually. The bill also caps insulin copayments at $30 for a 30-day supply, applying to both new prescriptions and refills. This affects all health insurance plans providing medical or hospital expense coverage in the state.
HB 706 prohibits insurance companies from auditing healthcare providers' services after care is delivered but before payment is issued. This directly affects healthcare providers (like doctors or clinics) and insurers who serve patients in New Hampshire's individual health insurance market. The bill requires insurers to immediately pay providers for audited services, cover 15% annual interest on delayed payments, waive patient copays/coinsurance, and reimburse providers for enforcement costs if they violate the rule. Insurers who conduct prohibited audits also lose their right to later review those specific services. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.
HB 2026 formally adopts New Hampshire's "State 10-Year Transportation Improvement Plan 2027-2036," which was submitted by the governor under existing law. The bill directly affects state transportation planning by designating this specific plan as the official framework for the 2027-2036 decade. It requires the state to implement the projects outlined in the plan, encouraging timely action on transportation improvements. The bill does not create new funding or alter project details but legally endorses the governor's submitted plan as the state's roadmap.
HB 1347 prevents health care facilities (like hospitals and clinics) from blocking referrals from outside primary care doctors when both the facility and specialist accept the patient's insurance. It directly affects patients seeking specialist care and health care facilities that previously restricted such referrals. The bill requires facilities to accept these referrals if insurance is accepted, and violations can result in $100,000 fines per incident or loss of nonprofit status. Enforcement is handled by the attorney general, with the law taking effect 60 days after passage.
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).
HB 1813 requires health insurance carriers to provide participating healthcare providers and facilities with 60 days' notice before making changes to their contracts, limiting such changes to four times per year on January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1. The bill mandates that carriers include redlined copies showing changes (with additions underlined/bolded and deletions struck through) and, for changes affecting over $500,000 in total annual reimbursement, provide a financial impact estimate to both providers and the Insurance Department. This directly affects health carriers and their contracted providers by increasing transparency and giving providers more time to review significant contract modifications. Exceptions include mutual agreements between carriers and providers, changes required by government rules, or updates to standard medical coding. The law takes effect 60 days after passage.
HB 1761 establishes a publicly administered Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FMLI) program to expand New Hampshire's existing paid family and medical leave system. The program will provide wage replacement benefits for eligible employees and self-employed individuals who meet income requirements during a defined base period, covering leave for qualifying family or medical reasons. It creates clear definitions for key terms like "covered individual," "application year," and "average weekly wage" to determine eligibility and benefit amounts. The Department of Insurance will administer the program and enforce protections against interference with leave rights.
New Hampshire's HCR 16 is a concurrent resolution applying to Congress for a convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution. It specifically seeks to propose a constitutional amendment setting term limits for U.S. House and Senate members. The resolution states that New Hampshire's application will be aggregated with similar applications from other states to reach the required 2/3 majority of states. This is a procedural step to advance the term limits proposal, not a law affecting current representatives or voters.
HB 1753 establishes the New Hampshire First for Veterans Program and Authority to support veterans, service members, and their families across the state. The program will provide funding to address key priorities like ending veteran homelessness, matching veterans with veteran-friendly jobs, improving access to mental and physical healthcare (including suicide prevention and substance use treatment), and supporting military skills transfer and education opportunities. The New Hampshire First for Veterans Authority, governed by a 22-member board appointed by state leaders, will coordinate these efforts through public-private partnerships. This program directly affects veterans and their families by creating structured support systems for housing, employment, healthcare, and career transition.
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.
SB 606 requires health insurance plans and Medicaid to cover biomarker testing for diagnosis, treatment, or monitoring of diseases when the test has clinical utility and is supported by evidence like FDA approvals, drug labels, or medical guidelines. It applies to all health benefit plans issued on or after January 1, 2027, and mandates Medicaid coverage under similar standards. The bill limits disruptions in care (e.g., requiring multiple biopsies) and sets strict timelines for prior authorization decisions - 72 hours for urgent cases and 14 days for non-urgent requests. It also ensures patients and providers have a clear, accessible process to appeal coverage denials through health insurers' websites.
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.
