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HB 1656 · 2026 · House · Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee

Insurance coverage for pelvic therapy

AI-generated

relative to insurance coverage for pelvic health therapy.

Requires insurers to offer pelvic health insurance coverage, report data on pelvic health treatment, and directs the insurance department to publish an annual report on pelvic health coverage.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 11, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill: I. Requires insurers to offer pelvic health insurance coverage. II. Requires insurers to report on data regarding pelvic health treatment and care. III. Requires the insurance department to publish an annual report relative to insurer data concerning pelvic health insurance coverage.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“"Pelvic floor physical therapy" means assessment and treatment by a licensed physical therapist or other licensed clinician with pelvic-health training addressing pelvic floor muscle function, bladder/bowel training, manual therapy, biofeedback, therapeutic exercise, education and behavioral interventions.”
RSA 420-R:1
“Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, all health insurance plans in this state shall include pelvic-floor physical therapy (PFPT) as a covered rehabilitative benefit.”
RSA 420-R:2
“For chronic or recurrent conditions, coverage may be extended where clinicians request authorization for an additional 12 months of coverage, provided that authorization is resubmitted every 3 months.”
RSA 420-R:3
“After any pelvic surgery, insurers shall cover post-op PFPT packages, initial post-op evaluation, and no more than 12 sessions in the first 12 weeks for education regarding complex or prolonged post-op surgery recovery, with an additional 24 sessions in a 12-month period if deemed medically necessary.”
RSA 420-R:4

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Paige BeaucheminDPrime
  • Rep. Jennifer MandelbaumDClerk· State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs
  • Sen. Rebecca Perkins KwokaDMinority Leader

Also: Rep. Eleana ColbyD, Rep. Janet LucasD, Rep. Trinidad TellezD

Public testimony

27 signed in online · 4 wrote testimony

100% support0% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“As someone who used to work in a physical therapy clinic as a rehab assistant, I saw how important pelvic floor therapy is. I did research and found out that in Europe pelvic floor therapy is part of a postpartum cycle rehabilitation!”
— Bianca Bernardo, Concordsupports
“Healthcare should be a human right. No one part of the body excluded, no matter how this person is presenting”
— Rachel Saunders, Nashuasupports
“Please vote OTP on HB1656. Pelvic health is important and pelvic healthcare should be covered by health insurance companies.…”
— Mary Jenkins, Goffstownsupports

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
  • Feb 18, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate15–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 11, 2026HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 17, 2026Public hearingHouse Commerce and Consumer AffairsWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamPublic Hearing
  • Feb 18, 2026Public hearingHouse Commerce and Consumer AffairsWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Full Committee Work Session; Executive Session
  • Mar 11, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamInexpedient to Legislate — adopted, voice vote

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Commerce and Consumer Affairs HJ 1 P. 30
  2. Feb 17, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 02/17/2026 02:45 pm GP 159
  3. Feb 18, 2026HouseFull Committee Work Session: 02/18/2026 10:00 am GP 229
  4. Feb 18, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/18/2026 01:00 pm GP 229
  5. Feb 18, 2026HouseCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/18/2026 (Vote 15-0; CC) HC 10 P. 9
  6. Mar 11, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/11/2026 HJ 7 P. 13

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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