1 Statement of Intent. The general court recognizes that despite dramatic changes in the federal health insurance programs, many residents of New Hampshire remain uninsured or under insured, and costs continue to soar. The general court further recognizes that the state has an interest in containing the costs of delivering care within the financial means of the stakeholders in our state. Because of the unique demographic, economic, and fiscal characteristics of New Hampshire, improving access to affordable health care should be carefully evaluated and considered. Therefore, the general court hereby establishes a commission to recommend policies that will enhance access to affordable health care for all New Hampshire residents.

2 New Subdivision; Commission to Recommend Policies That Will Enhance Access to Affordable Health Care for all New Hampshire Residents. Amend RSA 126-A by inserting after section 74 the following new subdivision:

Commission to Recommend Policies That Will Enhance Access to

Affordable Health Care for all New Hampshire Residents

126-A:75 Commission to Recommend Policies That Will Enhance Access to Affordable Health Care for all New Hampshire Residents.

I. There is established a commission to recommend policies that will enhance access to affordable health care for all New Hampshire residents.

(a) The members of the commission shall be as follows:

(1) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

(2) Three members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(3) The insurance commissioner, or designee.

(4) The commissioner of the department of health and human services, or designee.

(5) Two public members who shall represent New Hampshire patients, appointed by the governor.

(6) A representative of the New Hampshire Hospital Association, appointed by the association.

(7) Two representatives of the New Hampshire Medical Society, appointed by the society.

(8) One member representing the private health insurance industry in New Hampshire, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(9) A representative of the University of New Hampshire Institute for Health Policy and Practice, appointed by the institute.

(10) A representative of the Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire, appointed by the association.

(11) A representative of organized labor, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(12) A member representing mental health patients, appointed by the governor.

(13) A member representing persons with substance use disorders, appointed by the governor.

(b) Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.

II.(a) The commission shall review costs of health care and health insurance in New Hampshire and review policies that will improve access to affordable health care. The commission shall include in its study a review of state and federal policies.

(b) The commission may solicit input from any person or entity the commission deems relevant to its study.

III. 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 45 days of the effective date of this section. Nine members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.

IV. The commission shall make an interim report with its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation on or before November 1, 2018 and a final report on November 1, 2019 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.

3 Repeal. RSA 126-A:75, relative to a commission to recommend policies that will enhance access to affordable health care for all New Hampshire residents, is repealed.

4 Effective Date.

I. Section 3 of this act shall take effect November 1, 2019.

II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.

1 Statement of Intent. The general court recognizes that despite dramatic changes in the federal health insurance programs, many residents of New Hampshire remain uninsured or under insured, and costs continue to soar. The general court further recognizes that the state has an interest in containing the costs of delivering care within the financial means of the stakeholders in our state. Because of the unique demographic, economic, and fiscal characteristics of New Hampshire, improving access to affordable health care should be carefully evaluated and considered. Therefore, the general court hereby establishes a commission to recommend policies that will enhance access to affordable health care for all New Hampshire residents.

2 New Subdivision; Commission to Recommend Policies That Will Enhance Access to Affordable Health Care for all New Hampshire Residents. Amend RSA 126-A by inserting after section 74 the following new subdivision:

Commission to Recommend Policies That Will Enhance Access to

Affordable Health Care for all New Hampshire Residents

126-A:75 Commission to Recommend Policies That Will Enhance Access to Affordable Health Care for all New Hampshire Residents.

I. There is established a commission to recommend policies that will enhance access to affordable health care for all New Hampshire residents.

(a) The members of the commission shall be as follows:

(1) One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

(2) Three members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(3) The insurance commissioner, or designee.

(4) The commissioner of the department of health and human services, or designee.

(5) Two public members who shall represent New Hampshire patients, appointed by the governor.

(6) A representative of the New Hampshire Hospital Association, appointed by the association.

(7) Two representatives of the New Hampshire Medical Society, appointed by the society.

(8) One member representing the private health insurance industry in New Hampshire, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(9) A representative of the University of New Hampshire Institute for Health Policy and Practice, appointed by the institute.

(10) A representative of the Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire, appointed by the association.

(11) A representative of organized labor, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(12) A member representing mental health patients, appointed by the governor.

(13) A member representing persons with substance use disorders, appointed by the governor.

(b) Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.

II.(a) The commission shall review costs of health care and health insurance in New Hampshire and review policies that will improve access to affordable health care. The commission shall include in its study a review of state and federal policies.

(b) The commission may solicit input from any person or entity the commission deems relevant to its study.

III. 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 45 days of the effective date of this section. Nine members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.

IV. The commission shall make an interim report with its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation on or before November 1, 2018 and a final report on November 1, 2019 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.

3 Repeal. RSA 126-A:75, relative to a commission to recommend policies that will enhance access to affordable health care for all New Hampshire residents, is repealed.

4 Effective Date.

I. Section 3 of this act shall take effect November 1, 2019.

II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.