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HB 548 · 2025 · House · Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee

Membership-based health facility licensing

AI-generated

relative to licensing requirements for health care facilities that operate on a membership-based business model.

Exempts direct-pay health care facilities, other than nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities, from certain licensing requirements and the licensing moratorium, establishes a patient's bill of rights for such facilities, and directs a state study of direct-pay models.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the Senate — Inexpedient to Legislate · May 8, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✕Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill exempts direct-pay health care facilities from certain licensing requirements and policies in RSA 151:2-f as well as the moratorium on licensing and bed capacity in RSA 151:2, VI(a) provided that the facility is not a nursing home or skilled nursing facility. The bill also establishes a patient's bill of right for direct-pay facilities and directs the department of health and human services to study direct-pay models.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as amended by the House. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“Every facility licensed under RSA 151:2, I(a) or (d) and every person holding a special health care service license under RSA 151:2-e shall:”
RSA 151:2-f
“The policy describing the rights and responsibilities of each patient admitted to a facility that operates on a membership-based business model or exclusively provides services to persons who make direct payment for services as defined in RSA 151:2-f, II, except those admitted by a home health care provider, shall include, as a minimum, the following:”
RSA 151:21-c
“Subparagraph I(a) shall not apply to intermediate care facilities or rehabilitation facilities, including rehabilitation hospitals and facilities offering comprehensive rehabilitation services facilities, that operate on a membership-based business model or exclusively provide services to persons who make direct payment for services.”
RSA 151:2-f
“The patient shall be treated with consideration, respect, and full recognition of the patient's dignity and individuality, including privacy in treatment and personal care and including being informed of the name, licensure status, and staff position of all those with whom the patient has contact, pursuant to RSA 151:3-b.”
RSA 151:21-c

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Mark McLeanRPrime
  • Sen. Victoria SullivanRVice Chair· Education

Also: Rep. Jim KofaltR, Rep. Mark WardenR

Public testimony

95 signed in online · 19 wrote testimony

84% support16% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I support this bill and think it offers people the ability to choose their Healthcare and how it is handled and where they receive it.”
— Andrea Warriner, Ossipeesupports
“Many people in the state enjoy the reduced costs and often superior care of direct payment or membership based primary care. But direct payment and membership based models are not currently allowed for hospitals and clinics.…”
— Jim and Nina Kelly, Auburnsupports
“We desperately need more choices in our healthcare and more competition!! I can hardly afford the REQUIRED medical insurance for my family!!! Please SUPPORT this common sense bill!!!”
— Sally Staude, Strathamsupports
“This bill would be detrimental to the health of children and I do not support it.”
— Amanda Furtado, Auburnopposes
“Any decline in vaccinations represents a serious health threat to the individual and the community - particularly our most vulnerable. Please contineu to make vaccine access available and free to our citizens!”
— KATHRYN RYAN, Eastonopposes
“Vaccines are critical to supporting every NH resident's health and wellbeing. Repealing the NH vaccine aasociation would devastate the overall health of all NH residents.”
— Rebecca M, Suncookopposes

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Mar 19, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0964h10–8
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Mar 27, 2025HouseVoice voteAmendment 2025-0964hadopted
  • Mar 27, 2025HouseRoll callOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0964hAdopted200–157How they voted
    Overall
    56% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    198–199% yea
    Democrats
    2–1561% yea
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • May 8, 2025SenateCommittee report: Inexpedient to Legislate5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 8, 2025SenateVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 12, 2025Public hearingHouse Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs4:06:03–4:09:313m 28slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 19, 2025Public hearingHouse Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs39:59–41:221m 23slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0964h — roll call; Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Executive Session
  • Mar 27, 2025Floor debateHouse floor4:43:41–4:48:244m 43slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0964h — adopted, roll call 200-157; Amendment # 2025-0964h — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 16, 2025Public hearingSenate Health and Human Services1:36:06–1:40:274m 21slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 8, 2025Floor debateSenate floor27:03–28:251m 22slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Vote 5-0; CC; Inexpedient to Legislate — adopted, voice vote; HB 548 was Removed from the Consent Calendar

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs HJ 3 P. 15
  2. Feb 12, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/12/2025 01:00 pm LOB 301-303
  3. Mar 19, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/19/2025 09:30 am LOB 201
  4. Mar 19, 2025HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0964h 03/19/2025 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 17 P. 58
  5. Mar 19, 2025HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  6. Mar 27, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-0964h: AA VV 03/27/2025 HJ 11 P. 52
  7. Mar 27, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0964h: MA RC 200-157 03/27/2025 HJ 11 P. 53
  8. Mar 27, 2025SenIntroduced 03/27/2025 and Referred to Health and Human Services; SJ 10
  9. Apr 16, 2025SenHearing: 04/16/2025, Room 101, LOB, 10:15 am; SC 17
  10. May 8, 2025Sen: Inexpedient to Legislate; Vote 5-0; CC; 05/08/2025; SC 20
  11. May 8, 2025SenHB 548 was Removed from the Consent Calendar; 05/08/2025; SJ 12
  12. May 8, 2025SenInexpedient to Legislate, MA, VV === BILL KILLED ===; 05/08/2025; SJ 12

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.