HB 319 - AS INTRODUCED

2023 SESSION

23-0428

05/10

HOUSE BILL 319

AN ACT establishing a committee to study an all-payer system of insurance for hospital services.

SPONSORS: Rep. Schmidt, Straf. 14

COMMITTEE: Commerce and Consumer Affairs

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ANALYSIS

This bill establishes a committee to study an all-payer system of insurance for hospital 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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

23-0428

05/10

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Three

AN ACT establishing a committee to study an all-payer system of insurance for hospital services.

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

1 Committee Established; Committee to Study an All-Payer System of Insurance for Hospital Services. There is established a committee to study an all-payer system of insurance for hospital services. The purpose of the committee shall be to make recommendations regarding the establishment of an agency to facilitate uniform rates of reimbursement for all hospital and outpatient services, across insurance type, for each New Hampshire hospitals and selected surgical centers, radiological centers, and other hospital-linked outpatient services.

2 Membership and Compensation.

I. The members of the committee shall be as follows:

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

(b) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

II. Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.

III. The committee shall solicit information and testimony from the public and from the following individuals, each of whom shall be invited to attend and participate in the meetings of the committee:

(a) The commissioner of health and human services, or designee.

(b) The insurance commissioner, or designee.

(d) A representative of the New Hampshire Hospital Association, appointed by the association.

(e) One or more representatives of organizations responsible for reimbursement of health care, such as Medicaid, CHIP or other Federal, State, Charitable or private agencies, as appointed by the governor.

(f) A New Hampshire health policy advisor with expertise in Maryland All-Payer Total Cost of Care model and other state all-payer systems, appointed by the governor.

3 Duties. The committee shall:

I. Study the merits and feasibility of establishing an agency or board in New Hampshire that has authority to set negotiated prices for in-patient hospital services and related outpatient services for any and all insurers who cover such services.

II. Consider as a model the Maryland All-Payer Total Cost Care Program as a statewide initiative to facilitate uniform rates for hospital and outpatient services, across insurance type.

III. Examine the structure, scope, and success of the Maryland program, including the composition of its governing board and the ability of the program to achieve its identified objectives.

IV. Develop state-specific recommendations for the establishment of a similar all-payer system of insurance for hospital services in New Hampshire that takes into consideration the responsibility of collecting and interpreting data on the quality of services and outcomes in all such settings.

4 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the study committee shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the committee shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the committee shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Three members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.

5 Report. The committee shall provide an interim and final report of 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. The interim report shall be submitted on or before November 1, 2023, and the final report on or before November 1, 2024.

6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.