Christine Arsnow

2/12/25 HB 524-OPPOSE Hello my name is Dr. Christine Arsnow. I am a pediatrician in Concord, vice president of the NH American Academy of Pediatrics and mother of three. I am here today to urge the House Committee on Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs to oppose HB 524. HB 524 seeks to dissolve the NH vaccine association. Currently, insurance companies pay into a central fund, managed by a non-profit organization called the New Hampshire Vaccine Association (NHVA), which allows the state to purchase vaccines at a 30 percent discount. The state then offers these immunizations to families at no cost. This ensures that all kids in NH have access to the same vaccines without cost regardless of insurance type. If this bill were to pass, pediatric practices would have to buy vaccines and charge patient insurances for them. This gives private insurance companies more power to decide how much they are willing to pay for vaccines, and may result in a patient being charged for the vaccine. The process of vaccine storage is appropriately regimented, and requires a trained team. Vaccines must be stored at precise conditions, with regulated temperature and humidity. Frequent inventory is required to make sure no vaccines are expired or unaccounted for. If the process of how vaccines are purchased and obtained were to change, this would place a tremendous administrative burden on all pediatric practices. The authors of this bill estimate that it would take a single part time state employee to communicate this information to providers. This is a gross underestimate. I work for a small private practice and we employ a senior secretary 20+ hours per week to work on vaccine storage, handling, and data entry. The idea that this transition for the entire state could be managed by a part time employee is absurd. Additionally, the authors admit that “the state would need funds to purchase vaccines during public health response activities in case of disease outbreaks, disaster relief efforts, etc.” Even in the most ideal circumstances, this bill would increase state spending. House Bill 524 asks the state to spend money to create a problem. The authors of this bill agree that this WILL cost the state more money. Anyone who works in a medical office knows that it WILL hurt pediatric practices and patients. There is no benefit. Please oppose HB 524.