The bill SB 263-FN, as amended by the Senate, aims to make permanent the New Hampshire Granite Advantage Health Care Program, which was set to expire on December 31, 2023. It reestablishes a commission to evaluate the program's effectiveness and future, with the commission consisting of various stakeholders, including legislators and representatives from the healthcare sector. The commission is tasked with evaluating financial metrics, product offerings, and the program's impact on insurance premiums, among other things, and is required to meet annually to make recommendations for legislative changes. The bill also includes a repeal of the provision that transfers funds from the Alcohol Abuse Prevention and Treatment Fund to the Granite Advantage Health Care Trust Fund.

Financially, the bill outlines that the non-federal share of the program's costs will be funded through insurance premium tax revenue, an assessment on insurers, Liquor funds, drug rebate revenue, and a portion of Medicaid Enhancement Tax revenues. The Department of Health and Human Services projects that federal funds will cover 90% of the program's costs for fiscal years 2024 and 2025, with the state covering the remaining 10% through the specified funding sources. The estimated federal funds for FY 2024 are approximately $438.3 million, and for FY 2025, about $446.8 million, with the non-federal share projected to be $49.2 million for FY 2024 and $50.2 million for FY 2025. The bill also eliminates the annual transfer of approximately $11 million from the Alcohol Abuse Prevention and Treatment Fund to the Granite Advantage program.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 176-A:1, 404-G:5-a
As Amended by the Senate: 176-A:1, 404-G:5-a, 126-AA:1