CHAPTER 225
SB 17 – FINAL VERSION
22May2013… 1585h
06/12/13 2102EBA
2013 SESSION
01/03
SENATE BILL 17
AN ACT establishing a commission to study palliative care and associated quality of life initiatives.
SPONSORS: Sen. Gilmour, Dist 12; Sen. Odell, Dist 8; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Boutin, Dist?16; Sen. Reagan, Dist 17; Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21; Sen. Stiles, Dist 24
COMMITTEE: Health, Education and Human Services
This bill establishes a commission to study palliative care and associated quality of life initiatives.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
22May2013… 1585h
06/12/13 2102EBA
13-0857
01/03
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Thirteen
AN ACT establishing a commission to study palliative care and associated quality of life initiatives.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
225:1 New Chapter; Commission to Study Palliative Care and Associated Quality of Life Initiatives. Amend RSA by inserting after chapter 126-V the following new chapter:
CHAPTER 126-W
COMMISSION TO STUDY PALLIATIVE CARE AND
ASSOCIATED QUALITY OF LIFE INITIATIVES
126-W:1 Commission to Study Palliative Care and Associated Quality of Life Initiatives; Membership; Duties.
I. There is established a commission to study palliative care and associated quality of life initiatives. The members of the commission shall be appointed within 45 days of the effective date of this chapter and shall be as follows:
(a) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
(b) Three members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(c) The commissioner of the department of health and human services, or designee.
(d) The commissioner of the insurance department, or designee.
(e) A licensed hospice and palliative care physician, appointed by the New Hampshire Medical Society.
(f) A licensed hospice and palliative care nurse, appointed by the New Hampshire Nurses’ Association.
(g) A licensed social worker specializing in palliative care, appointed by the New?Hampshire chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.
(h) A representative of a hospital with a dedicated palliative care program, appointed by the New Hampshire Hospital Association.
(i) A representative of a Medicare certified home health and hospice agency, appointed by the Home Care Association of New Hampshire.
(j) A representative of the New Hampshire Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, appointed by the organization.
(k) A representative of spiritual care professionals specializing in palliative care, appointed by the New Hampshire Council of Churches.
(l) A representative of a nursing home facility, appointed by the New Hampshire Health Care Association.
(m) Two public members, appointed by the governor.
II. Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.
III. The commission’s duties shall include, but not be limited to:
(a) Assessing the general knowledge of the citizens of New Hampshire regarding palliative care and hospice services.
(b) Evaluating the access, effectiveness, utilization, and timeliness of palliative and hospice care.
(c) Considering requiring continuing education credits for professional relicensure of health care providers involved with palliative, hospice, and pain management services.
(d) Reviewing options for increasing the knowledge and use by the public of advanced directives, including directions to the providers regarding life sustaining treatment.
(e) Discussing potential deficits in third party payments for hospice or palliative care services as a barrier for use of palliative and hospice care.
IV. The members of the commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the senate member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 60 days of the effective date of this section. Eight members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.
V. The commission shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate clerk, the house clerk, the governor, and the state library in the form of an interim report on or before November 1, 2013 and a final report on or before June 1, 2014.
225:2 Repeal. RSA 126-W:1, relative to the commission to study palliative care and associated quality of life initiatives, is repealed.
225:3 Effective Date.
I. Section 2 of this act shall take effect June 1, 2014.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.
Approved: July 15, 2013
Effective Date: I. Section 2 shall take effect June 1, 2014.
II. Remainder shall take effect July 15, 2013.