Healthcare (Prescription Drugs)

failed · New Hampshire · Senate May 14, 2026

SB 665: relative to pharmacy benefits managers, managed care laws, notice of drug pricing options and pharmacy benefit manager business practices.

SB 665 requires pharmacies to charge consumers the lowest available price for prescription drugs at the point of sale, directly affecting patients purchasing medications and pharmacies. The bill defines "lowest available price" as the minimum of the pharmacy’s cash price, the consumer’s insurance cost-sharing amount, or any available discount price at the time of transaction. Pharmacists must determine and disclose this price before completing the sale, and insurers cannot penalize pharmacies for doing so. Violations could result in disciplinary action by the pharmacy board or civil penalties up to $1,000 per violation, with the law taking effect January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires pharmacies to charge lowest available drug price, reducing patient costs and improving medication access at point of sale.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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signed · New Hampshire · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 705: relative to health care cost transparency.

HB 705 requires health insurance carriers in New Hampshire to publish specific cost data online in digital files, directly affecting insurers and making it easier for consumers to compare prices. The bill mandates three types of publicly accessible files: in-network provider rates (including negotiated prices), out-of-network allowed amounts, and prescription drug pricing (both current negotiated rates and historical average costs). All data must be updated monthly, include plain-language descriptions, and be free to access without login requirements. The law takes effect for plan years beginning January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance cost transparency for consumer price comparison, improving access and informed decision-making in healthcare.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Prescription Drugs

passed · New Hampshire · Senate Aug 21, 2026

SB 247: prohibiting network exclusion for pharmacies that refuse to dispense a prescription of the PBM reimbursement that is below the pharmacy's acquisition cost.

SB 247 allows community pharmacies to decline filling prescriptions when a pharmacy benefits manager (PBM) offers reimbursement below the pharmacy’s actual drug cost, without facing network exclusion. Pharmacies must inform patients to contact their insurer for alternative pharmacy options. The bill also requires pharmacy administrative organizations (PSAOs) to share PBM contracts and payment details with pharmacies within 3 days and prohibits PSAOs from forcing pharmacies to buy drugs from specific suppliers. This applies to independent pharmacies and takes effect January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill prevents pharmacy closures by ensuring fair reimbursement, maintaining patient access to prescriptions through protected pharmacy networks.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Prescription Drugs

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in committee · New Hampshire · House Aug 21, 2026

HB 648: relative to insurance coverage for glucose monitoring.

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for glucose monitors and CGMS without prior authorization, expanding access to essential diabetes care and protecting patient rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Insurance Prescription Drugs

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failed · New Hampshire · House Jan 7, 2026

HB 570: repealing the prescription drug affordability board.

HB 570 modifies New Hampshire's Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) by expanding the definition of "public payor" to include state-funded health plans and corrections department coverage. It adds an alternate board member appointed from an advisory council (with terms tied to council membership), sets a 2-year term for the board chair (elected by members), and extends the executive director position until June 2030 (previously limited to 2 years after initial hire). The bill does not repeal the PDAB but adjusts its structure, with estimated annual costs of $140,000-$153,000 for the executive director role funded by the General Fund. It takes effect 60 days after passage.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill modifies PDAB by expanding scope and extending operations, reinforcing drug affordability oversight rather than repealing as title suggests.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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died · New Hampshire · House Feb 27, 2026

HB 1702: relative to notice requirements and enforcement for pharmacies dispensing medications intended to induce chemical abortions.

HB 1702 requires pharmacies and medical facilities in New Hampshire to post a standardized notice about mifepristone (a drug used for chemical abortions) when dispensing it. The notice, displayed prominently in specific areas like waiting rooms or pharmacy counters, states that mifepristone may sometimes be reversible if the second pill hasn’t been taken, and provides a contact for resources. Noncompliance could result in a class B felony charge for providers or civil lawsuits seeking damages for patients harmed by the lack of notice. The bill directly affects pharmacies and clinics dispensing mifepristone, with no estimated state or local costs.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareMandates notice about abortion drug reversibility, potentially limiting patient access to mifepristone by influencing decisions and imposing penalties for noncompliance.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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passed · New Hampshire · House May 8, 2026

HB 1249: authorizing pharmacists to provide certain medical devices associated with prescribed medication.

HB 1249 allows pharmacists to prescribe and dispense specific medical devices necessary for administering prescribed medications, directly affecting pharmacists and patients who use these devices. Key provisions include authorizing pharmacists to provide inhalation spacers, CPAP supplies, diabetes testing kits, insulin pump supplies, and related items like pen needles. Pharmacists must notify the prescribing provider after dispensing but are not required to do so before. The bill amends pharmacy practice definitions and requires the Board of Pharmacy to adopt implementing rules with medical and nursing boards.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands pharmacist scope to provide essential medical devices (e.g., diabetes kits, CPAP supplies), improving patient access to medication-related care without requiring prior provider notification.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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passed both · New Hampshire · Senate May 21, 2026

SB 504: relative to the practice of pharmacy and the dispensing of certain medications by pharmacists, authorizing the establishment of experimental treatment centers, and permitting treatment of certain severe illness under the right to try act.

SB 504 allows licensed healthcare providers to dispense up to a 30-day supply of certain cancer medications directly to patients under a doctor's supervision, requiring clinics to maintain a full-time pharmacist available for consultation. It removes the requirement for pharmacists' names on controlled drug labels and permits advanced pharmacy technicians to perform remote medication processing. The bill updates the definition of "practice of pharmacy" to include modern services like medication therapy management and collaborative care. These changes streamline access to cancer medications while maintaining safety protocols for pharmacy operations.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables direct dispensing of cancer meds under supervision, requires pharmacist consultation, and streamlines pharmacy processes to improve patient access and safety in medication management.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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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

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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

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