Bill Text: NH HB1622 | 2022 | Regular Session | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Relative to notice that a health care provider is no longer accepting new patients and relative to mental health parity.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-1)

Status: (Passed) 2022-05-24 - Signed by Governor Sununu 05/20/2022; Chapter 84; Eff. 01/01/2023 [HB1622 Detail]

Download: New_Hampshire-2022-HB1622-Enrolled.html

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HB 1622-FN - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES

 

16Feb2022... 0450h

2022 SESSION

22-2725

05/04

 

HOUSE BILL 1622-FN

 

AN ACT relative to notice that a health care provider is no longer accepting new patients and relative to mental health parity.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Luneau, Merr. 10; Rep. Bartlett, Merr. 19; Rep. Knirk, Carr. 3; Rep. Ladd, Graf. 4; Sen. Whitley, Dist 15; Sen. Sherman, Dist 24

 

COMMITTEE: Commerce and Consumer Affairs

 

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AMENDED ANALYSIS

 

This bill requires contracts between health care providers and carriers to include a provision that the provider notify the carrier when the provider is no longer accepting new patients.  The bill also requires coverage for biologically-based mental illness to meet the access standards in RSA 420-J:7.

 

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

16Feb2022... 0450h 22-2725

05/04

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Two

 

AN ACT relative to notice that a health care provider is no longer accepting new patients and relative to mental health parity.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  Managed Care Law; Provider Contract Standards.  Amend RSA 420-J:8 by inserting after paragraph XVII the following new paragraph:

XVIII.  Every contract entered into after September 1, 2022 between a health carrier and any health care provider shall contain a provision that requires the health care provider to notify the carrier when the health care provider is no longer accepting new patients.  Notification shall take place no more than 30 days after the date the health care provider is no longer accepting new patients.

 

2  Coverage for Certain Biologically-Based Mental Illnesses.  Amend RSA 417-E:1, II to read as follows:

II.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, each insurer that issues or renews any policy of accident or health insurance and each nonprofit health service corporation under RSA 420-A and health maintenance organization under RSA 420-B providing benefits for disease or sickness in the state of New Hampshire shall provide benefits for treatment and diagnosis of certain biologically-based mental illnesses under [the same] access standards established in RSA 420-J:7, and under terms and conditions [and] which are no less extensive than the coverage provided for any other type of health care for physical illness.

3  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect January 1, 2023.

 

LBA

22-2725

Revised 4/8/22

Amended 3/11/22

 

HB 1622-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE (AMENDMENT #2022-0450h)

 

AN ACT relative to mental health parity.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:      [    ] State              [    ] County               [    ] Local              [ X ] None

METHODOLOGY:

The Insurance Department and the Department of Health and Human Services state this bill will have no fiscal impact.

 

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Insurance Department and Department of Health and Human Services