This bill mandates that group insurance policies issued or renewed in the state must include coverage for services provided by licensed naturopathy providers. Specifically, it amends RSA 415:18-w to change the language from insurers "may" provide such coverage to "shall" provide coverage for health services performed by a doctor of naturopathic medicine, provided that the insurer would reimburse for similar services performed by other healthcare providers. Additionally, the bill stipulates that any coverage for naturopathy services cannot impose higher co-payments, deductibles, or coinsurance than those applied to similar benefits offered by the insurer.

The bill is expected to have an indeterminable fiscal impact on both state and local levels, potentially increasing total claim expenditures due to the inclusion of more eligible providers. While the Insurance Department acknowledges that this may lead to increased insurance premiums, the extent of such increases is uncertain. Insurers retain the authority to set standards for medical necessity and credentialing, which may mitigate the overall financial impact. The bill will take effect 60 days after its passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 415:18-w
SB550 text: 415:18-w