Bill Text: NH HB570 | 2025 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relative to membership of the prescription drug affordability board and the definition of public payor for purposes of board administration.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced) 2025-02-12 - Executive Session: 02/19/2025 02:00 pm Legislative Office Building 306-308 [HB570 Detail]

Download: New_Hampshire-2025-HB570-Introduced.html

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HB 570-FN - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2025 SESSION

25-0079

05/02

 

HOUSE BILL 570-FN

 

AN ACT relative to membership of the prescription drug affordability board and the definition of public payor for purposes of board administration.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Edwards, Rock. 31; Sen. Rosenwald, Dist 13

 

COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill revises the definition of public payor for purposes of the prescription drug affordability board and provides for appointment of an alternate member to the board from the advisory council.  The bill also establishes a 2-year term for the board chairperson and provides that the board may employ an executive director until June 30, 2030.

 

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

25-0079

05/02

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five

 

AN ACT relative to membership of the prescription drug affordability board and the definition of public payor for purposes of board administration.

 

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

 

1  Drug Affordability Board; Definition of Public Payor.  Amend RSA 126-BB:1, VI to read as follows:

VI.  "Public payor" means any health plan which includes coverage for prescription drugs and is paid for in whole or in part by state general funds or any division of state, county, or municipal government that administers a health plan for its employees or an association of state, county, or municipal employers that administers a health plan for its employees.  "Public payor" also includes health care paid for by the department of corrections.

2  New Subparagraph; Prescription Drug Affordability Board; Alternate Member Added.  Amend RSA 126-BB:2, I by inserting after subparagraph (c) the following new subparagraph:

(d)  One alternate appointed by the commissioner of the department of health and human services selected from the advisory council established in RSA 126-BB:4.  Notwithstanding paragraph II, the alternate board member’s term shall be coterminous with their membership on the advisory council.  The alternate board member may participate in deliberations of the board in the event any member elects to be recused as provided in RSA 126-BB:3 or is absent.

3  Prescription Board Affordability Board; Chairperson.  Amend RSA 126-BB:2, IV to read as follows:

IV.  The chair of the board shall be elected by an affirmative vote of at least 4 of the 5 members of the board and shall serve a 2-year term.  The chair of the board shall be elected in odd numbered years within 3 months of submission of the annual report specified in RSA 126-BB:5, IV.

4  Prescription Board Affordability Board; Executive Director.  Amend RSA 126-BB:2, VI to read as follows:

VI.  The board shall be administratively attached to the department of health and human services.  [For a limited time,] The board may employ an executive director until June 30, 2030, subject to the availability of funds, who shall be an unclassified employee.  The executive director shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the board.  [Said position shall be effective for no more than 2 years following the date of hire of the individual first selected to fill the position.]  The board may also employ [one contracted employee or more] classified or contract employees, dependent on the availability of funds.

5  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

 

LBA

25-0079

1/3/25

 

HB 570-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

 

AN ACT relative to membership of the prescription drug affordability board and the definition of public payor for purposes of board administration.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:   This bill does not provide funding.

Estimated State Impact
		FY 2025	FY 2026		FY 2027	FY 2028
Revenue		$0	$0		$0	$0
Revenue Fund(s)		None
Expenditures*		$0	$140,000		$148,000	$153,000
Funding Source(s)		General Fund
Appropriations*		$0	$0		$0	$0
Funding Source(s)		None
*Expenditure = Cost of bill                *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill

 

METHODOLOGY:

This bill extends until 2030 the position of executive director for the Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB).  Currently, state statue establishes the position for only two years following the date of hire of the individual first selected to fill the position.  The PDAB states that salary and benefits for the position will be approximately $140,000 in FY26, $148,000 in FY27, and $153,000 in FY28.  These will be paid for with state general funds.

 

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Prescription Drug Affordability Board