On Jun. 25, NH LEG issued bill on surprise medical billing prohibitions.
NH LEG passed bill SB 173 to establish prohibitions against surprise medical bills.
Adds new Ch 358-T to TITLE XXXI (Trade and Commerce) of the NH Revised Statutes (NH INS XXXI-358-T), prohibition on balance billing covered person for health care.
Bill Provisions
Enacted same requirements, prohibitions as exist under federal No surprises act (NSA)
Re payments to, billing by, out-of-network providers of emergency medical services and out-of-network providers of any health care service rendered at in-network facility.
It required that health carriers cover out-of-network emergency services and services provided at the in-network facilities by out-of-network providers in the same manner.
As if the services were provided by an in-network provider or in-network facility.
Health carrier must pay out-of-network provider or facility a rate that is determined either through open negotiation between parties or through fair value review process.
Must be the same fair value standards as established in NSA and same independent dispute resolution (IDR) entities as are certified under the federal IDR process.
Upon failure of open negotiation between the parties, the health care provider or facility will have the option to utilize either the State or the federal IDR process.
Incorporated same prohibitions as NSA re balance billing by out-of-network providers for covered services provided at in-network facility, for covered emergency services.
Legislative History
On Jan. 20, 2023, bill was introduced in Senate; on Jun. 24, 2024, bill passed Senate.
On Apr. 2, 2024, bill was introduced in House; on Jun. 25, 2024, bill passed House.
Effectiveness
Upon approval, act will take effect Jan. 1, 2025.
Jul. 2024 NH LEG Governor Approval
On Jul. 3, 2024, NH LEG reported governor approved bill, effective on Jan. 1, 2025.
Jul. 2024 NH LEG Press Release
On Jul. 10, 2024, NH LEG reported passage of bill SB 173, signed on Jul. 3, Ch. 0143.
Regulators
NH LEG
Entity Types
Ins
Reference
Ch 143, PR, 7/10/2024; PR, Act, 7/3/2024; Bill SB173, 6/25/2024; NSA; Citation: NH INS XXXI;
