This bill, HB 548-FN, proposes changes to the licensing requirements for health care facilities that operate on a membership-based model or provide services exclusively through direct payment. It exempts these facilities from certain licensing requirements and the existing moratorium on new licenses and bed capacity as specified in RSA 151:2, VI(a). The bill amends RSA 151:2, VI(a)(1) to clarify that the moratorium does not apply to these facilities and introduces a new section, RSA 151:21-c, establishing a Patients' Bill of Rights for direct-pay and membership-based facilities. This Bill of Rights ensures that patients are treated with dignity, informed of their rights, and protected from abuse.

Additionally, the bill modifies existing definitions and requirements in RSA 151, specifically amending RSA 151:19, II to exclude these facilities from the definition of "facility" for certain provisions, and updating RSA 151:2-f to clarify that certain policies do not apply to them. The bill also mandates that these facilities pay licensing fees to cover the costs incurred by the Department of Health and Human Services for processing applications and ongoing expenses. Furthermore, it requires the Department to conduct a study on the impact of direct pay models on New Hampshire's health care system, with findings to be reported by June 30, 2026. The fiscal impact of the bill is indeterminable for state revenues and expenditures, as it does not provide funding or authorize new positions.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 151:2, 151:19, 151:2-f