SB 545-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
03/26/2026 1210s
2026 SESSION
26-2127
05/08
SENATE BILL 545-FN
AN ACT relative to financial eligibility for the Medicare savings program.
SPONSORS: Sen. Rosenwald, Dist 13; Sen. Long, Dist 20; Sen. Fenton, Dist 10; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Perkins Kwoka, Dist 21; Sen. Altschiller, Dist 24; Rep. Wallner, Merr. 19; Rep. Weber, Ches. 5; Rep. Telerski, Hills. 11; Rep. Hakken-Phillips, Graf. 12; Rep. Nagel, Belk. 6
COMMITTEE: Health and Human Services
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ANALYSIS
This bill removes the resource limit for the Medicare savings program and, subject to CMS approval, makes the low income subsidy for Medicare Part D available to residents to assist with prescription drug costs.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
03/26/2026 1210s 26-2127
05/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT relative to financial eligibility for the Medicare savings program.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Short Title. This act shall be known as "The Help for Low Income Seniors Act of 2026".
2 New Section; Financial Eligibility for Medicare Savings Program. Amend RSA 167 by inserting after section 4-f the following new section:
167:4-g Medicare Savings Program.
I. The department shall administer the Medicare savings program as described in 42 U.S.C. section 1396a(a)(10)(E) in accordance with federal law and this section.
II. Financial eligibility for the Medicare savings program shall, subject to CMS approval, make the low income subsidy for Medicare Part D available to residents to assist with prescription drug costs.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
26-2127
04/07/2026
SB 545-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE (AMENDMENT #2026-1210s)
AN ACT relative to financial eligibility for the Medicare savings program.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to make the low-income subsidy for Medicare Part D available to residents who meet the financial eligibility criteria for participation in the Medicare savings program. The Depatment notes that the subsidy is already available to such residents, although there is currently no requirement in either state or federal law that this be the case. The subsidy is administered by the federal government and is fully federally funded, provided that expenditures do not exceed the state's allocation of federal funds available for this purpose. The Department notes that from calendar years 2021 through 2025, subsidy expenditures have ranged from 55 percent to 67 percent of the state's allotment. For this reason, the Department assumes that the bill will have no fiscal impact.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Health and Human Services
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| March 18, 2026 | 2026-1210s |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 14, 2026 | Senate | Hearing |
| Feb. 19, 2026 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| March 26, 2026 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| April 8, 2026 | House | Hearing |
| April 15, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| April 15, 2026 | House | Floor Vote |
April 23, 2026: Inexpedient to Legislate: MA RC 182-153 04/23/2026 HJ 11
April 15, 2026: Minority Committee Report: Ought to Pass
April 15, 2026: Majority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 04/15/2026 (Vote 10-8; RC)
April 7, 2026: Executive Session: 04/15/2026 10:00 am GP 158
April 1, 2026: Public Hearing: 04/08/2026 09:00 am GP 158
March 27, 2026: Introduced 03/26/2026 and referred to Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs HJ 9
March 23, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-1210s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
March 23, 2026: Committee Amendment # 2026-1210s, AA, VV; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
March 19, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1210s, 03/26/2026; Vote 7-0; CC; SC 11
Feb. 18, 2026: Ought to Pass: MA, VV; Refer to Finance Rule 4-5; 02/19/2026; SJ 4
Feb. 12, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 02/19/2026; Vote 4-1; CC; SC 6
Dec. 15, 2025: Hearing: 01/14/2026, Room 100, SH, 09:00 am; SC 47
Nov. 24, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Health and Human Services; SJ 1