CHAPTER 198
HB 1183 - FINAL VERSION
30march00.....3715h
5/11/00 4467s
2000 SESSION
01/09
HOUSE BILL 1183
AN ACT relative to consumer access to providers for the term of the consumer's health benefit plan and relative to the committee studying certain financial arrangements.
This bill requires continued consumer access to certain network providers for the term of the consumer's health benefit plan when health carriers and hospitals or provider organizations fail to renew their contract.
This bill also adds members and duties to and extends the reporting date of the committee to study certain financial arrangements established in 1999, 155.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
30march00.....3715h
5/11/00 4467s
00-2471
01/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand
AN ACT relative to consumer access to providers for the term of the consumer's health benefit plan and relative to the committee studying certain financial arrangements.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
198:1 New Paragraph; Consumer Access to Network Providers. Amend RSA 420-J:8 by inserting after paragraph X the following new paragraph:
XI. Every contract entered into after September 30, 2000 between a health carrier and any institutional provider or provider organization that includes more than 10 individual providers shall contain a provision addressing continued access to providers subsequent to the non-renewal of the contract. The effect of this provision shall be to assure that covered persons will have continued access to the institutional provider or to providers within the provider organization in the event that the health carrier and the institutional provider or provider organization fail to renew their contract as of its expiration date. The continued access to providers that covered persons are entitled to under this paragraph shall be provided and paid for in accordance with the terms and conditions of the covered person's health benefit plan and the prior contract between the health carrier and institutional provider or provider organization. Such continued access to providers shall be made available until the renewal date of the covered person's health benefit plan or 60 days after the expiration date of the contract between the health carrier and institutional provider or provider organization, whichever is sooner. Within 5 business days of the contract termination, the health carrier shall provide written notice to affected covered persons explaining their continued access rights.
198:2 Members Added. Amend 1999, 155:2, I to read as follows:
I. The members of the committee shall be as follows:
(a) [Three] Five members of the house of representatives, at least 2 of whom shall be from the house commerce committee, appointed by the speaker of the house.
(b) [Three] Five members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
198:3 Duties Added; Quorum; Report Date Extended. Amend 1999, 155:3-5 to read as follows:
198:155:3 Duties. The committee shall study the financial arrangements and contracts among hospitals, health care providers, and insurance companies. The study shall include, but not be limited to, how these arrangements affect insurance premiums and health care costs in New Hampshire. The committee shall examine how reimbursement rates are determined and withholdings are calculated. The committee shall investigate health care issues and specific problems within the health care industry. The committee shall also study the feasibility of creating a health care oversight entity. The committee may seek outside information from any relevant source.
155:4 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. [Four] Six members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.
155:5 Report. The committee shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate president, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, [1999] 2000.
198:4 Effective Date.
I. Section 1 of this act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.
(Approved: May 30, 2000)
(Effective Date: I. Section 1 takes effect July 29, 2000
II. Remainder takes effect May 30, 2000)