This bill amends the Managed Care Law to establish new standards for health carrier provider contracts, particularly when a contract termination affects 1,000 or more patients. It grants the insurance commissioner the authority to hold an informational public hearing within 15 business days of receiving notice of such a termination. The hearing aims to gather information on the potential impact of the termination on access to care in the community, but it does not grant the commissioner the power to require contract continuation or modification. Additionally, the bill mandates that health carriers provide written notice to affected patients within five business days of the contract termination, detailing their rights to continued access to care for 60 days post-termination.

The bill also introduces a standardized notice process for health carriers to inform patients about contract terminations and their rights. It requires the commissioner to develop a standardized notice form and allows health carriers to either use this form or submit their own for approval. The proposed notices must clearly communicate the reasons for the contract termination, the date of in-network coverage termination, and the rights of covered persons under state and federal law. The bill repeals and reenacts certain provisions of RSA 420-J:8, ensuring that patients are adequately informed and protected during contract transitions. The act is set to take effect 60 days after its passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 420-J:8
As Amended by the Senate: 420-J:8
SB548 text: 420-J:8