New Hampshire HB 1798: relative to the coverage of diapers under the state Medicaid plan.

Bill Text

HB 1798-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2026 SESSION

 26-2642

 05/08

HOUSE BILL 1798-FN

AN ACT relative to the coverage of diapers under the state Medicaid plan.

SPONSORS: Rep. Sorensen, Rock. 28; Rep. Gregg, Hills. 7; Rep. M. Pearson, Rock. 34; Rep. Telerski, Hills. 11; Rep. Wallner, Merr. 19; Rep. Kluger, Hills. 6; Rep. Wade, Straf. 15; Sen. Perkins Kwoka, Dist 21; Sen. Prentiss, Dist 5; Sen. Rosenwald, Dist 13

COMMITTEE: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

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ANALYSIS

 This bill directs the department of health and human services to submit a demonstration waiver to CMS to provide Medicaid coverage for diapers for the first year of an infant's life. The bill also makes an appropriation to the department of health and human services for this purpose.

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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

 26-2642

 05/08

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT relative to the coverage of diapers under the state Medicaid plan.

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

 1 New Section; Department of Health and Human Services; Medicaid Coverage for Diapers. Amend RSA 126-A by inserting after section 4-i the following new section: 

 126-A:4-j State Medicaid Plan; Diapers. 

 I. On or before November 1, 2026, the commissioner of the department of health and human services shall submit a Section 1115 demonstration waiver to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for the purpose of providing Medicaid coverage for the cost of 100 diapers a month for the first 12 months of a child’s life. 

 II. Beginning November 1, 2026, the department shall submit biennial reports to the oversight committee on health and human services, established in RSA 126-A:13, regarding the status of the waiver application. Subject to approval by CMS, the department shall make best efforts to implement the benefit on or before May 1, 2027. 

 2 Appropriation. The sum of $100,000, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, is hereby appropriated to the department of health and human services for the purpose of funding section 1 of this act. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum from any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated. 

 3 Effective Date. This act shall take upon its passage.

 LBA

 26-2642

 Revised 1/14/26

HB 1798-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT relative to the coverage of diapers under the state Medicaid plan.

FISCAL IMPACT: This bill does not authorize new positions.

 Estimated State Impact

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

 Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

 Revenue Fund(s)

None

 Expenditures*

$0

$165,000 general funds; $178,000 federal funds 

$919,000 general funds; 1,068,000 federal funds

$919,000 general funds; 1,068,000 federal funds

 Funding Source(s)

General funds, federal funds

 Appropriations*

$0

$100,000

$0

$0

 Funding Source(s)

General Fund

 *Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill

METHODOLOGY:

This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to submit a Section 1115 demonstration waiver to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to allow the state to provide Medicaid coverage for the cost of 100 diapers a month for the first 12 months of a child’s life. The bill appropriates $100,000 in FY27 for the purpose of funding the new coverage.

The Department of Health and Human Services states there are approximately 4,000 Medicaid-eligible children from birth to 12 months of age. The Department anticipates it will pay a rate of $0.46 per diaper. While not every eligible parent will avail themselves of the benefit, the Department anticipates a high uptake and assumes a 90 percent utilization rate, or 3,600 children per month. Of these, the Department anticipates 75 percent (2,700) will qualify under standard Medicaid while the remaining 25 percent (900) will qualify through the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The standard Medicaid federal match is 50 percent, while the CHIP federal match is 65 percent. The table below outlines the anticipated federal and general expenditures for the two eligibility groups:

 Clients Per month

Diaper Entitlement

Cost Per Diaper

Federal Fund Expenditures Per Month

General Fund Expenditures Per month

Federal Fund Expenditures Annualized 

General Fund Expenditures Annualized

 Standard (2,700)

100

$0.46 

$62,100 

$62,100 

$745,200 

$745,200 

 CHIP (900)

100

$0.46 

$26,910 

$14,490 

$322,920 

$173,880 

Total federal funds per month = $