The bill establishes the New Hampshire Children's Behavioral Health Association, a nonprofit organization tasked with assessing costs related to childhood behavioral health services for individuals 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," while outlining the types of services covered, including intensive in-home services and care coordination. The association will consist of various assessable entities and will have a board of directors that includes representatives from these entities, healthcare providers, and state officials. The bill also clarifies that all assessments are considered pharmaceutical or medical benefit costs for rate-setting purposes and establishes a priority of obligations in the event of insolvency.

Additionally, the bill introduces a Childhood Behavioral Health Services Fund, funded through assessments from insurance carriers and other entities, with the aim of supporting care management for childhood behavioral health services. It mandates annual reports to the commissioner of insurance detailing the association's activities and allows for the collection of assessments and the return of unexpended funds. The bill also amends RSA 417-E:1, V-a to require health insurers to provide comparative analyses of benefits for mental health and substance use disorders, specifically for consumers aged 0-5 and 18 years and younger. The act is set to take effect 60 days after passage, with an anticipated revenue increase of over $2.5 million annually, although the fiscal impact remains indeterminable.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 417-E:1