This bill amends New Hampshire's health care facility regulations by exempting direct-pay health care facilities from certain licensing requirements specified in RSA 151:2-f. It redefines the term "facility" to exclude direct payment and membership-based facilities, thereby relieving them of traditional licensing obligations. Additionally, the bill modifies the Patients' Bill of Rights to incorporate specific provisions for these direct-pay facilities, ensuring that patients are informed about their rights, responsibilities, services, and associated costs. Key insertions include the definition of "facility" that excludes home health care providers and private homes, and the inclusion of RSA 151:21-b in the definition of "patients' rights," while deleting RSA 151:21-c.

Furthermore, the legislation establishes a comprehensive Patients' Bill of Rights for users of direct-pay and membership-based health care services, emphasizing rights related to dignity, privacy, informed consent, and financial management. It mandates that licensed health facilities adopt policies to provide services regardless of payment source, create assistance plans for uninsured individuals, and report service volume and outcomes to the Department of Health and Human Services. The bill also sets a future effective date of January 1, 2032, for the new licensing requirements, contingent on the licensing of new facilities during a specified period. The Department of Health and Human Services is tasked with studying the impact of direct pay models on the state's health care system, with findings due by June 30, 2027. The fiscal impact remains indeterminable, as the bill does not allocate funding or authorize new positions, but it is anticipated to influence state revenues and expenditures through licensing fees and the mandated study.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 151:2, 151:19, 151:2-f
As Amended by the House: 151:19, 151:2-f, 151:21-c
HB1562 text: 151:2, 151:19, 151:2-f