This bill, HB 743-FN, aims to enhance transparency in healthcare pricing and improve billing practices by mandating that health care entities provide patients with a good faith estimate of costs associated with services prior to treatment. Key provisions include the requirement for health care entities to inform patients of their right to request pricing information through prominently posted notices and written documents. Additionally, health insurance carriers must provide insured patients with an advanced explanation of benefits within three business days of receiving a good faith estimate. The bill establishes a new chapter, Chapter 358-U, which outlines definitions related to health care pricing, the disclosure of prices for frequently provided services, and the process for uninsured or self-pay patients to receive estimates. It also emphasizes the importance of notifying patients about financial assistance policies and protects them from collection actions if health care entities fail to comply with the good faith estimate requirements.

The bill includes several insertions and deletions to current law, such as the addition of definitions for "collection agency," "consumer reporting agency," "items or services," and "patient guarantor." It introduces new sections in RSA 151 that require hospitals to comply with federal price transparency regulations and disclose pricing data in a standardized format. Starting January 1, 2026, health carriers must develop a website and toll-free number to assist enrollees in obtaining estimated costs and quality data from network providers. The Department of Health and Human Services is tasked with adopting rules to ensure compliance with these new requirements, and penalties for noncompliance are established. The fiscal impact of the bill is indeterminable, as it may influence state revenue through potential increases in insurance premiums and compliance costs while possibly reducing providers' bad debt. Overall, the bill seeks to promote transparency in healthcare pricing and protect patients from aggressive collection practices.