New Hampshire HB 1782: relative to access to rural maternal health care and directing the department of health and human services to develop a rural maternal health care delivery pilot program.

Bill Text

HB 1782-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2026 SESSION

 26-3136

 07/08

HOUSE BILL 1782-FN

AN ACT relative to access to rural maternal health care and directing the department of health and human services to develop a rural maternal health care delivery pilot program.

SPONSORS: Rep. Beauchemin, Hills. 3; Rep. Colby, Merr. 9; Rep. Jacobs, Ches. 15; Rep. Lucas, Graf. 7; Rep. Mandelbaum, Rock. 21; Rep. Weinstein, Rock. 10

COMMITTEE: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs 

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ANALYSIS

 This bill establishes a rural maternal health care delivery pilot program and maternity care improvement commission to help provide prenatal and postnatal care to pregnant people living in rural areas where there is limited or no access to obstetric care services.

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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

 26-3136

 07/08

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT relative to access to rural maternal health care and directing the department of health and human services to develop a rural maternal health care delivery pilot program.

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

 1 New Sections; Occupations and Professions; Midwifery; Rural Maternal Health Care Delivery Pilot Program. Amend RSA 326-D by inserting after section 14 the following new section: 

 326-D:15 Rural Maternal Health Care Delivery Pilot Program. 

 I. The department of health and human services shall coordinate, operationalize, and determine best practices for a maternity home pilot program to provide prenatal and postnatal care to pregnant people living in rural areas where there is limited or no access to obstetric care services. 

 II. The pilot program shall: 

 (a) Collaborate with physicians within a hospital system located within a clinically safe distance from a maternity care home to provide appropriate clinical oversight. 

 (b) Offer care delivery by mid-level practitioners, including certified nurse midwives, certified midwives, nurse practitioners, and other clinicians licensed to provide safe prenatal and postnatal care. 

 (c) Contemplate changes to global reimbursements that ought to be made to allow for reimbursement of individual prenatal and postpartum visits and care. 

 III. The department of health and human services shall develop a report on the pilot program's structure and implementation process, current functionality, barriers and successes, and viability of continuation and expansion. The department shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before July 1, 2028. 

 326-D:16 Maternity Care Improvement Commission. 

 I. There is established a commission to study the development of strategic plans to improve maternal health in this state. 

 II. Notwithstanding RSA 14:49, II(c), the members of the commission shall be as follows: 

 (a) Three members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives. 

 (b) Three members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

 (c) Two licensed New Hampshire obstetricians, appointed by the governor.

 (d) Two certified nurse midwives, appointed by the governor.

 (e) Two certified midwives, appointed by the governor.

 (f) Two licensed pediatricians, appointed by the governor.

 (g) Two licensed family practice doctors, appointed by the governor. 

 (h) Two parents whom have not given birth to a child within the past 3 years, appointed by the governor. 

 (i) Two resident nurses with experience and expertise in pre and post natal care, appointed by the governor. 

 (j) Two mothers who have given birth within the past 3 years, appointed by the governor. 

 III. Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission. 

 IV. The commission shall study the development of strategic plans to improve maternal health in this state.

 V. The members of the study commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. The commission shall meet every 91 days. Thirteen members of the commission shall constitute a quorum. 

 VI. Notwithstanding RSA 14:49, the commission shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legis