This bill proposes significant amendments to existing health care facility licensing laws, specifically exempting direct-pay health care facilities from certain licensing requirements and the moratorium on new licenses and bed capacity for nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities. It allows for the establishment of facilities that operate on a membership-based business model or provide services exclusively to patients who pay directly for those services. The moratorium on licensing will not apply to these facilities, including rehabilitation centers focused on treating substance use disorders or mental health issues. Key insertions include a new section outlining the rights of patients in these facilities, while deletions streamline existing language to accommodate these changes.

Furthermore, the bill introduces a Patients' Bill of Rights for direct-pay and membership-based facilities, ensuring that patients are treated with dignity, informed of their rights, and receive clear communication regarding their care. It emphasizes patient privacy and autonomy, allowing patients to manage their financial affairs and communicate freely. The bill also removes the moratorium on licensing for these new health care facilities, requiring them to pay licensing fees to the Department of Health and Human Services. Additionally, it mandates a study to assess the impact of direct pay models on New Hampshire's health care system, with findings due by June 30, 2026. The fiscal impact of the bill is indeterminable, as it does not provide funding or authorize new positions, but it is expected to influence state revenues and expenditures related to licensing fees and the study.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 151:2, 151:19, 151:2-f
As Amended by the House: 151:2, 151:19, 151:2-f