SB 550-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
14May2026... 1702h
2026 SESSION
26-2143
05/06
SENATE BILL 550-FN
AN ACT relative to insurance coverage for services provided by naturopathy providers.
SPONSORS: Sen. Rochefort, Dist 1; Rep. Lundgren, Rock. 16
COMMITTEE: Health and Human Services
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires group insurance policies issued in the state to include coverage for naturopathy providers.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
14May2026... 1702h 26-2143
05/06
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT relative to insurance coverage for services provided by naturopathy providers.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Naturopathy Providers; Payment for Equivalent Types of Services; Group. Amend RSA 415:18-w to read as follows:
415:18-w Naturopathy Providers; Payment for Equivalent Types of Services; Group. Each insurer that issues or renews any policy of group or blanket accident or health insurance providing benefits for medical or hospital expenses [may] 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 expenses arising from a health service performed by a doctor of naturopathic medicine licensed under RSA 328-E if that particular type of service is within the scope of practice of such doctor and if the insurer would reimburse for that type of service when performed by any other type of health care provider. Such coverage, if provided, shall be subject to each insurer's standards and mechanisms for determining medical necessity, for credentialing pursuant to RSA 420-J:4, and for contracting pursuant to RSA 420-J:8. Any such benefits provided shall not be subject to any greater co-payment, deductible, or coinsurance than any other similar benefits provided by the insurer.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027.
26-2143
5/15/26
SB 550-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE (AMENDMENT # 2026-1702h)
AN ACT relative to insurance coverage for services provided by naturopathy providers.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Estimated State Impact | ||||
| FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | FY 2029 |
Revenue | $0 | Indeterminable Increase (not provided by agency) | Indeterminable Increase (not provided by agency) | Indeterminable Increase (not provided by agency) |
Revenue Fund(s) | General Fund | |||
Expenditures* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Funding Source(s) | None | |||
Appropriations* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Funding Source(s) | None | |||
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill | ||||
| ||||
Estimated Political Subdivision Impact | ||||
| FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | FY 2029 |
County Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
County Expenditures | $0 | Indeterminable | Indeterminable | Indeterminable |
Local Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Local Expenditures | $0 | Indeterminable | Indeterminable | Indeterminable |
METHODOLOGY:
This bill requires group insurance policies issued or renewed in the state to provide coverage for health services performed by a licensed doctor of naturopathic medicine when the insurer would reimburse for the same type of service if performed by another health care provider. The bill prohibits insurers from applying higher co-payments, deductibles, or coinsurance to such services.
The Insurance Department states this bill may increase total claim expenditures by a small amount due to increasing the number of providers eligible to perform covered services. The Department notes this may also result in increased insurance premiums; however, the extent of any increase is indeterminable. The Department assumes any increase would be small because health carriers retain the authority to apply standards for medical necessity, credentialing, and contracting and are not required to cover any specific items or services that are not already covered under the plan. To the extent counties and municipalities purchase health insurance, they could see an increase in their health insurance premiums.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Insurance Department
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| May 1, 2026 | 2026-1702h |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 28, 2026 | Senate | Hearing |
| Feb. 19, 2026 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| April 16, 2026 | House | Hearing |
| April 29, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| April 29, 2026 | House | Floor Vote |
May 14, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-1702h: MA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13
May 14, 2026: Amendment # 2026-1702h: AA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13
May 1, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1702h 04/29/2026 (Vote 15-0; CC) HC 19 P. 7
April 22, 2026: Executive Session: 04/29/2026 10:00 am GP 229
April 22, 2026: Subcommittee Work Session: 04/28/2026 10:00 am GP 229
April 16, 2026: Subcommittee Work Session: 04/22/2026 10:00 am GP 229
April 9, 2026: Public Hearing: 04/16/2026 11:00 am GP 229
Feb. 26, 2026: Introduced (in recess of) 02/19/2026 and referred to Commerce and Consumer Affairs HJ 5 P. 124
Feb. 12, 2026: Ought to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 02/19/2026; SJ 4
Feb. 12, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 02/19/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 6
Jan. 22, 2026: Hearing: 01/28/2026, Room 100, SH, 09:30 am; SC 3
Nov. 24, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Health and Human Services; SJ 1