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HB 241 · 2026 · House · Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee

Insurance coverage for chronic pain management

AI-generated

(New Title) relative to health insurance coverage of pain management services for the management of chronic pain.

Requires health carriers to develop a program, under insurance department guidelines, to provide access to a broad spectrum of covered pain management services for chronic pain.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · July 16, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill requires health carriers to develop, in accordance with guidelines established by the insurance department, a program to provide access to a broad spectrum of covered pain management services for the management of chronic pain.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“This plan shall be approved by the department as a component of the form filing and approval process.”
RSA 420-J:7-f
“Health carriers shall provide to covered persons who suffer from a chronic pain condition information regarding the pain management program and how to access services included in the program.”
RSA 420-J:7-g
“Health carriers shall annually distribute educational materials about the program to providers within their networks.”
RSA 420-J:7-f
“Health carriers shall not require a covered person to obtain prior authorization for access to the program of pain management.”
RSA 420-J:7-f

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. David NagelDPrime

Rep. Tom DolanR, Rep. David LundgrenR, Rep. William PalmerD

Public testimony

No one submitted online testimony on this bill. See the record

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 9, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamVacated and Referred to Commerce and Consumer Affairs (Rep. W. MacDonald) — adopted, voice vote
  • Jan 23, 2025Public hearingHouse Commerce and Consumer AffairsWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamPublic Hearing
  • Mar 4, 2025Public hearingHouse Commerce and Consumer AffairsWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamSubcommittee Work Session
  • Mar 5, 2025Public hearingHouse Commerce and Consumer Affairs15:20–17:051m 45slocated in the stream transcriptExecutive Session; Retained in Committee
  • Sep 10, 2025Public hearingHouse Commerce and Consumer AffairsWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamFull Committee Work Session
  • Oct 8, 2025Public hearingHouse Commerce and Consumer AffairsWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamFull Committee Work Session
  • Oct 28, 2025Public hearingHouse Commerce and Consumer Affairs1:15:13–1:20:265m 13slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2990h (NT); Executive Session
  • Jan 7, 2026Floor debateHouse floor26:22–26:4826slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-2990h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2025-2990h — adopted, voice vote; Referred to Finance
  • Feb 9, 2026Public hearingHouse Finance - Division I31:13–32:211m 8slocated in the stream transcriptDivision I Work Session
  • Feb 20, 2026Public hearingHouse Finance - Division I3:40–7:083m 28slocated in the stream transcriptDivision I Work Session
  • Mar 17, 2026Public hearingHouse FinanceWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Executive Session
  • Mar 26, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 8, 2026Public hearingSenate Health and Human Services57:21–1:03:446m 23slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 7, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1622s; Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1622s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2026-1622s — adopted, voice vote
  • May 21, 2026Floor debateHouse floor20:37–22:071m 30slocated in the stream transcriptHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1622s (Rep. Hunt) — adopted, voice vote
  • Jun 4, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2164e Adopted — voice vote; Enrolled Adopted — voice vote
  • Jun 4, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2164e — adopted, voice vote; Enrolled (in recess)

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 8, 2025HouseIntroduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs HJ 2 P. 12
  2. Jan 9, 2025HouseVacated and Referred to Commerce and Consumer Affairs (Rep. W. MacDonald): MA VV (in recess of) 01/09/2025 HJ 3 P. 7
  3. Jan 23, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 01/23/2025 01:45 pm LOB 302-304
  4. Mar 4, 2025HouseSubcommittee Work Session: 03/04/2025 10:00 am LOB 104
  5. Mar 5, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/05/2025 10:00 am LOB 302-304
  6. Mar 5, 2025HouseRetained in Committee
  7. Sep 10, 2025HouseFull Committee Work Session: 09/10/2025 10:00 am GP 229
  8. Oct 8, 2025HouseFull Committee Work Session: 10/08/2025 10:00 am GP 229
  9. Oct 28, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 10/28/2025 11:00 am GP 229
  10. Oct 28, 2025House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2990h (NT) 10/28/2025 (Vote 17-0; CC) HC 51 P. 3
  11. Jan 7, 2026HouseAmendment # 2025-2990h: AA VV 01/07/2026 HJ 1 P. 43
  12. Jan 7, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-2990h: MA VV 01/07/2026 HJ 1 P. 43
  13. Jan 7, 2026HouseReferred to Finance 01/07/2026 HJ 1 P. 44
  14. Feb 9, 2026HouseDivision I Work Session: 02/09/2026 10:00 am GP 234
  15. Feb 20, 2026HouseDivision I Work Session: 02/20/2026 11:00 am GP 230
  16. Mar 17, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 03/17/2026 10:00 am GP 230
  17. Mar 17, 2026HouseCommittee Report: Ought to Pass 03/17/2026 (Vote 25-0; CC)
  18. Mar 26, 2026HouseOught to Pass: MA VV 03/26/2026 HJ 9 P. 2
  19. Mar 26, 2026SenIntroduced 03/26/2026 and Referred to Health and Human Services; SJ 7
  20. Apr 8, 2026SenHearing: 04/08/2026, Room 100, SH, 09:30 am; SC 13
  21. May 7, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1622s, 05/07/2026; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 17
  22. May 7, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-1622s, AA, VV; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
  23. May 7, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1622s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
  24. May 21, 2026HouseHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1622s (Rep. Hunt): MA VV 05/21/2026 HJ 14 P. 2
  25. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2164e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 06/04/2026); SJ 14
  26. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2164e: AA VV (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  27. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 15
  28. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026
  29. Jul 10, 2026HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 07/10/2026; Chapter 282; eff. I. Sec 2+3 eff as prov sec 4 II. Rem eff 1/1/2027

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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