Bill Text: NH HB604 | 2019 | Regular Session | Amended


Bill Title: Establishing a commission to assess benefits and costs of a "health care for all" program for New Hampshire.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-1)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2019-05-30 - Inexpedient to Legislate, Motion Adopted, Voice Vote === BILL KILLED ===; 05/30/2019; Senate Journal 18 [HB604 Detail]

Download: New_Hampshire-2019-HB604-Amended.html

HB 604 - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

 

7Mar2019... 0643h

2019 SESSION

19-0651

01/06

 

HOUSE BILL 604

 

AN ACT establishing a commission to assess benefits and costs of a "health care for all" program for New Hampshire.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Knirk, Carr. 3; Rep. Nutting, Hills. 32; Rep. Woods, Merr. 23; Rep. Fothergill, Coos 1; Rep. Buchanan, Merr. 15; Sen. Sherman, Dist 24; Sen. Hennessey, Dist 5

 

COMMITTEE: Commerce and Consumer Affairs

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill establishes a commission to study the benefits and cost of a "health care for all" program for New Hampshire.

 

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

7Mar2019... 0643h 19-0651

01/06

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nineteen

 

AN ACT establishing a commission to assess benefits and costs of a "health care for all" program for New Hampshire.

 

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

 

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 underinsured, 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, political, and fiscal characteristics of New Hampshire, a program that assures universal access to health care for all individuals residing within New Hampshire by combining all funds should be carefully evaluated and considered.  Therefore, the general court hereby establishes a commission to assess the benefits and cost of a "health care for all" program in New Hampshire.

2  New Subdivision; Commission to Study Developing a "Health Care for All" Program for all Residents of New Hampshire.  Amend RSA 126-A by inserting after section 77 the following new subdivision:

Commission to Study Developing a "Health Care for All" Program

 for all Residents of New Hampshire

126-A:78  Commission to Study Developing a "Health Care for All" Program for all Residents of New Hampshire.

I.  There is established a commission to study developing a "health care for all" program for all residents of New Hampshire.

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

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

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

(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, one appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and one appointed by the president of the senate.

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

(7)  A representative 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 representative of the New Hampshire chapter of the Physicians for a National Health Program, appointed by the organization.

(13)  A representative of the New Hampshire Council of Churches, appointed by the council.

(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 the costs and benefits of establishing a comprehensive publicly funded program of health insurance to cover all residents of New Hampshire.  The commission's study shall include, but not be limited to:

(1)  How such a system would affect the number of citizens who are protected with insurance.

(2)  The impact on the state budget of a system that funnels all health care money through a single pipeline.

(3)  The amount of money which would be saved for employers and state residents by such a publicly funded system.

(4)  How a publicly funded system would improve targeted health indicators for New Hampshire such as cancer deaths and drug-related deaths.

(5)  The creation of a health access corporation and health access fund which would use a market oriented approach to contract with health insurers to provide needed coverage for those who lack it.

(6) The feasibility of New England states entering into a compact for a single payer health care program.

(7)  Other issues that would be related to a single pipeline system.

(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 first-named house 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, 2019 and a final report on November 1, 2020 to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library.

3  Repeal.  RSA 126-A:78, relative to a commission to study developing a "health care for all" program for all residents of New Hampshire, is repealed.

4  Effective Date.  

I.  Section 3 of this act shall take effect November 1, 2020

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

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