Bill Text - SB399 (2024)

Relative to insurance coverage for blood testing associated with elevated lead levels.


Revision: Dec. 13, 2023, 2:54 p.m.

SB 399-FN - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2024 SESSION

24-2946

05/08

 

SENATE BILL 399-FN

 

AN ACT relative to insurance coverage for blood testing associated with elevated lead levels.

 

SPONSORS: Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19; Sen. Avard, Dist 12; Sen. Ricciardi, Dist 9; Sen. Rosenwald, Dist 13; Sen. Innis, Dist 7; Sen. Soucy, Dist 18; Sen. Whitley, Dist 15; Sen. Chandley, Dist 11; Sen. Bradley, Dist 3; Rep. Thackston, Ches. 12; Rep. J. Sullivan, Graf. 2; Rep. Burroughs, Carr. 2; Rep. Potucek, Rock. 13

 

COMMITTEE: Health and Human Services

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill expands mandatory health insurance coverage for blood tests associated with elevated lead levels.

 

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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

24-2946

05/08

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four

 

AN ACT relative to insurance coverage for blood testing associated with elevated lead levels.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  Short Title.  This act shall be known as the lead poisoning prevention and treatment act of 2024.

2  Accident and Health Insurance.  Amend RSA 415:6-v to read as follows:

415:6-v  Coverage for Blood Lead Testing. Each insurer that issues or renews any individual policy, plan, or contract of accident or health insurance providing benefits for medical or hospital expenses shall provide to persons covered by such insurance who are residents of this state coverage for [the costs of blood lead testing conducted pursuant to RSA 130-A:5-a. Benefits provided under this section shall not be subject to any greater co-payment, deductible, or coinsurance than any other similar benefits provided by the insurer.] any and all costs associated with blood lead testing conducted pursuant to RSA 130-A:5-a, including any and all costs associated with necessary follow-up testing should an elevated blood lead at or above the level that warrants notification pursuant to RSA 130-A:6 be discovered.

3  Accident and Health Insurance.  Amend RSA 415:18-aa to read as follows:

415:18-aa Coverage for Blood Lead Testing.  Each insurer that issues or renews any policy of group or blanket accident or health insurance providing benefits for medical or hospital expenses shall provide to each group, or to the portion of each group comprised of certificate holders of such insurance who are residents of this state, coverage for [the costs of blood lead testing conducted pursuant to RSA 130-A:5-a. Benefits provided under this section shall not be subject to any greater co-payment, deductible, or coinsurance than any other similar benefits provided by the insurer.] any and all costs associated with blood lead testing conducted pursuant to RSA 130-A:5-a, including any and all costs associated with necessary follow-up testing should an elevated blood lead at or above the level that warrants notification pursuant to RSA 130-A:6 be discovered.

4  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

 

LBA

24-2946

Revised 12/13/23

 

SB 399-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

 

AN ACT relative to insurance coverage for blood testing associated with elevated lead levels.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:      [ X ] State              [ X ] County               [ X ] Local              [    ] None

 

 

Estimated State Impact - Increase / (Decrease)

 

FY 2024

FY 2025

FY 2026

FY 2027

Revenue

$0

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Revenue Fund(s)

General Fund

Insurance Premium Tax

Expenditures

$0

$0

$0

$0

Funding Source(s)

None

Appropriations

$0

$0

$0

$0

Funding Source(s)

None

 

Does this bill provide sufficient funding to cover estimated expenditures? [X] N/A

Does this bill authorize new positions to implement this bill? [X] No

 

Estimated Political Subdivision Impact - Increase / (Decrease)

 

FY 2024

FY 2025

FY 2026

FY 2027

County Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

County Expenditures

$0

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Local Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

Local Expenditures

$0

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

 

METHODOLOGY:

This bill expands mandatory health insurance coverage for blood tests associated with elevated lead levels.  The Insurance Department assumes this would result in increased claims frequency and total claims cost, and consequently upward pressure on premiums.  As such, increases in premium tax revenues may increase proportionately.  The Department states the extent of these increases is non-trivial but indeterminable at this time.

An increase in insurance premiums may result in county and local expenditure increases for health insurance.

 

It is assumed that any fiscal impact would occur after FY 2024.

 

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Insurance Department