SB506 (2026) Detail

Relative to community engagement and work requirements under the state Medicaid program.


SB 506-FN - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2026 SESSION

26-2102

05/08

 

SENATE BILL 506-FN

 

AN ACT relative to community engagement and work requirements under the state Medicaid program.

 

SPONSORS: Sen. Pearl, Dist 17; Sen. Gray, Dist 6; Sen. Innis, Dist 7; Sen. Sullivan, Dist 18; Sen. Avard, Dist 12; Sen. McGough, Dist 11; Sen. Gannon, Dist 23; Sen. Lang, Dist 2; Sen. Murphy, Dist 16; Sen. Abbas, Dist 22; Rep. Moffett, Merr. 4; Rep. W. MacDonald, Rock. 16

 

COMMITTEE: Health and Human Services

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill directs the department of health and human services to establish community engagement and work requirements under the New Hampshire granite advantage health care program, or the state's expanded Medicaid program, pursuant to authorization for such requirements established in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025, Public Law 119-21.

 

This bill is a request of the department of health and human services.

 

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

26-2102

05/08

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

 

AN ACT relative to community engagement and work requirements under the state Medicaid program.

 

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

 

1  New Hampshire Granite Advantage Health Care Program; Community Engagement and Work Requirements.  Amend 2025, 141:412 to read as follows:

141:412  New Hampshire Granite Advantage Health Care Program, [1115 Demonstration; Renewed Application to CMS] Community Engagement and Work Requirements.

I.  On or before[ January] December 1, 2026, or on an earlier date within 30 calendar days after publication of the federal application template, the department of health and human services shall [resubmit] submit to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) [a Section 1115 demonstration waiver to the state Medicaid plan relative to enforcing] required documentation relative to implementing community engagement and work requirements as a condition of Granite Advantage eligibility in accordance with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025, Public Law 119-21, Section 71119 (2025).  Prior to submitting the [Section 1115 waiver] required documentation to CMS, the department shall submit the proposed [waiver] plan to implement community engagement and work requirements to the fiscal committee of the general court for [approval] review.

II.  Beginning November 1, 2025 and [annually] quarterly thereafter through December 31, 2026, and then annually thereafter, the department shall provide a report regarding the status of the [waiver application] plan under review by CMS and implementation of the community engagement and work requirements [in RSA 126-AA:2, III] eligibility in accordance with Public Law 119-21, Section 71119 (2025), to the senate president, the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate clerk, the house clerk, and the governor.

2 New Hampshire Granite Advantage Health Care Program Established; Community Engagement and Work Requirements; Suspended.  The provisions of RSA 126-AA:2, directly related to the community engagement and work requirements, shall be suspended for the duration of the federal community engagement and work requirements under Public Law 119-21, Section 71119 (2025), as amended. If the federal community engagement and work requirements are subsequently eliminated, the commissioner of the department of health and human services shall immediately certify in writing the removal of the suspension to the director of the office of legislative services, the secretary of state, the senate president, the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate clerk, the house clerk, and the governor.

3  New Hampshire Granite Advantage Health Care Program Established.  Amend RSA 126-AA:2, I(a) to read as follows:

I.(a)  The commissioner shall apply for any necessary waivers and state plan amendments to implement [a 5-year demonstration program beginning on January 1, 2019 to create] and administer the New Hampshire granite advantage health care program which shall be funded exclusively from non-general fund sources, including federal funds.  The commissioner shall include in an application for the necessary waivers submitted to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) a waiver of the requirement to provide 90-day retroactive coverage and a state plan amendment allowing state and county correctional facilities to conduct presumptive eligibility determinations for incarcerated inmates to the extent provided under federal law.  To receive coverage under the program, those individuals in the new adult group who are eligible for benefits shall choose coverage offered by one of the managed care organizations (MCOs) awarded contracts as vendors under Medicaid managed care, pursuant to RSA 126-A:5, XIX(a).  The program shall make coverage available in a cost-effective manner and shall provide cost transparency measures, and ensure that patients are utilizing the most appropriate level of care.  Cost effectiveness shall be achieved by offering cash incentives and other forms of incentives to the insured by choosing preferred lower cost medical providers.  Loss of incentives shall also be employed.  MCOs shall employ reference-based pricing, cost transparency, and the use of incentives and loss of incentives to the Medicaid and newly eligible population.  For the purposes of this subparagraph, "reference-based pricing" means setting a maximum amount payable for certain medical procedures.

4  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect upon its passage.

 

LBA

26-2102

11/18/25

 

SB 506-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

 

AN ACT relative to community engagement and work requirements under the state Medicaid program.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

The Office of Legislative Budget Assistant is unable to complete a fiscal note for this bill as it is awaiting information from the Department of Health and Human Services.  The Department was initially contacted on  10/1/25 for a fiscal note worksheet, with follow-up contact made on 11/18/25.  When completed, the fiscal note will be forwarded to the Senate Clerk's Office.

 

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Health and Human Services

 

Links


Action Dates

Bill Text Revisions

SB506 Revision: 49312 Date: Nov. 21, 2025, 3:47 p.m.

Docket


Nov. 21, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Health and Human Services; SJ 1