New Hampshire SB 548: relative to health carrier provider contract standards.

Bill Text

SB 548-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE

03/05/2026 0837s

2026 SESSION

 26-2132

 05/06

SENATE BILL 548-FN

AN ACT relative to health carrier provider contract standards.

SPONSORS: Sen. Rosenwald, Dist 13; Sen. Avard, Dist 12; Sen. Fenton, Dist 10; Sen. McGough, Dist 11; Rep. Miles, Hills. 12; Rep. Burroughs, Carr. 2; Rep. Telerski, Hills. 11; Rep. Nagel, Belk. 6; Rep. Spier, Hills. 6

COMMITTEE: Health and Human Services

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AMENDED ANALYSIS

 This bill allows the insurance commissioner to hold an informational public hearing when a health carrier ends a provider contract affecting 1,000 or more patients, and includes requirements for continuity‑of‑care and patient notification. It also creates a standardized notice process to ensure patients receive information about contract terminations and their rights.

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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

03/05/2026 0837s 26-2132

 05/06

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT relative to health carrier provider contract standards.

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

 1 New Section; Managed Care Law; Public Hearing Regarding Termination of Provider Contract; When Required. Amend RSA 420-J by inserting after section 7-e the following new section: 

 420-J:7-f Public Hearing Regarding Termination of Provider Contract; When Authorized. 

 I. The commissioner may, in the commissioner's discretion, hold a public hearing within 15 business days after receiving notice that a health carrier intends to terminate a contract with a provider when such termination will affect 1,000 or more covered persons. Any hearing held pursuant to this section shall be informational in nature and shall not constitute approval, disapproval, or review of the contract termination. The purpose of the hearing shall be limited to receiving information and testimony regarding the potential effect of the contract termination on access to care in the affected community, including access to quality and affordable physical and mental health care services. 

 II. Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize the commissioner to require continuation, modification, or renegotiation of a provider contract. 

 III. For purposes of this section, a health carrier's obligation to notify the commissioner of a provider contract termination shall be satisfied in accordance with existing notice requirements under this chapter. 

 2 Managed Care Law; Provider Contract Standards. RSA 420-J:8, XI is repealed and reenacted to read as follows: 

 XI.(a) Every contract entered into after July 1, 2003, between a health carrier and any physician or facility shall include a provision ensuring that covered persons have continued access to the provider in the event the contract is terminated for any reason other than unprofessional conduct.

 (b) Such continued access shall be provided for a period of 60 days from the effective date of contract termination and shall be furnished and reimbursed in accordance with the terms and conditions of the covered person's health benefit plan and the prior contract between the health carrier and the provider.

 (c) Within 5 business days of the contract termination, the health carrier shall provide written notice to affected covered persons explaining their continued access rights and stating whether the commissioner has elected to hold a public hearing pursuant to RSA 420-J:7-f. 

 3 New Paragraphs; Standardized Notice; Election by Carrier. Amend RSA 420-J:8 by inserting after paragraph XI the following new paragraphs: 

 XI-a.(a) The commissioner shall develop, by bulletin, a standardized notice form for use by health carriers in notifying covered persons of a provider contract termination and their continued access rights under this section. 

 (b) A health carrier shall notify the department, no later than 5 business days after providing notice of the contract termination to the commissioner, whether it intends to use the standardized notice developed pursuant to this paragraph.

 (c) A health carrier that elects to use the standardized notice shall provide such notice to affected covered persons in accordance with the timing requirements of this section.

 (d) Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent a health carrier from electing to provide a notice that varies from the standardized notice, subject to department review pursuant to paragraph XI-b.

 XI-b.(a) A health carrier that does not elect to use the standardized notice shall submit its proposed notice to the department with