The bill establishes the New Hampshire Children's Behavioral Health Association, a nonprofit organization tasked with assessing the costs associated with childhood behavioral health services for children aged 18 and younger. It amends RSA 135-F by inserting a new subdivision that defines key terms such as "assessable coverage," "assessable entity," and "childhood behavioral health services." The association will include various assessable entities, such as health maintenance organizations and insurance companies, and will be governed by a board of directors comprising representatives from these entities, healthcare providers, and state officials. The bill also outlines the association's powers and duties, including the preparation of articles of association, establishment of annual assessments, and submission of an operational plan to the commissioner of insurance for approval.

Additionally, the bill introduces a Childhood Behavioral Health Services Fund, funded through assessments from assessable entities, and mandates annual reports to the commissioner of insurance detailing the association's activities. It amends RSA 417-E:1, V-a to require health insurers to provide comparative analyses of medical/surgical benefits and mental health and substance use disorder benefits for consumers aged 0-5 and 18 years and younger. The bill aims to identify barriers to care and ensure compliance with parity laws. While the fiscal impact is projected to be indeterminable, estimates suggest annual revenues and expenditures could exceed $2.5 million starting in FY 2026. The act is set to take effect 60 days after its passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 417-E:1