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SB 545 · 2026 · Senate · Health and Human Services Committee

Medicare savings program eligibility

AI-generated

relative to financial eligibility for the Medicare savings program.

Removes the resource limit for the Medicare savings program and, subject to CMS approval, extends the low income subsidy for Medicare Part D to help residents with prescription drug costs.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · April 23, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓Senate
  3. ✕House
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill removes the resource limit for the Medicare savings program and, subject to CMS approval, makes the low income subsidy for Medicare Part D available to residents to assist with prescription drug costs.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

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

“The department shall administer the Medicare savings program as described in 42 U.S.C. section 1396a(a)(10)(E) in accordance with federal law and this section.”
RSA 167:4-g
“Financial eligibility for the Medicare savings program shall, subject to CMS approval, make the low income subsidy for Medicare Part D available to residents to assist with prescription drug costs.”
RSA 167:4-g

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Cindy RosenwaldDPrimeDeputy Democratic Leader
  • Sen. Rebecca Perkins KwokaDMinority Leader
  • Rep. Mary Jane WallnerDSenior Democratic Advisor
  • Rep. Lucy WeberDRanking Member· Health, Human Services, and Elderly Affairs
  • Rep. Laura TelerskiDDeputy Democratic Leader

Also: Sen. Pat LongD, Sen. Donovan FentonD, Sen. David WattersD, Sen. Debra AltschillerD, Rep. Mary Hakken-PhillipsD, Rep. David NagelD

Public testimony

62 signed in online · 4 wrote testimony

100% support0% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“As a case manager who cares for people receiving Medicare and LIS benefits, I can attest to the fact that this program contributes to the overall health and wellbeing of Granite Staters.…”
— Maria Hatheway, Somersworthsupports
“This bill removes the resource limit for the Medicare savings program and, subject to CMS approval, makes the low income subsidy for Medicare Part D available to residents to assist with prescription drug costs.…”
— Germano Martins, Hooksettsupports
“We owe it to our elders to take care of them, as they did us.”
— Bridget Powers, Plymouthsupports

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 19, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass4–1
    Overall
    80% yea
  • Feb 19, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • Mar 26, 2026SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1210s7–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 26, 2026SenateVoice voteCommittee amendment 2026-1210sadopted
  • Mar 26, 2026SenateVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment #2026-1210sadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • Apr 15, 2026HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate10–8
    Overall
    56% yea
  • Apr 23, 2026HouseRoll callInexpedient to LegislateAdopted182–153How they voted
    Overall
    54% yea
    Party-line vote
    Republicans
    182–398% yea
    Democrats
    0–1500% yea

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 14, 2026Public hearingSenate Health and Human Services2:26–14:2211m 56slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Feb 19, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Mar 26, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1210s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-1210s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2026-1210s — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 8, 2026Public hearingHouse Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs9:28–12:433m 15slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Apr 15, 2026Public hearingHouse Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs20:59–25:124m 13slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate — roll call; Minority Committee Report: Ought to Pass; Executive Session
  • Apr 23, 2026Floor debateHouse floor3:53:59–4:00:326m 33slocated in the stream transcriptInexpedient to Legislate — adopted, roll call 182-153

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

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026SenIntroduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Health and Human Services; SJ 1
  2. Jan 14, 2026SenHearing: 01/14/2026, Room 100, SH, 09:00 am; SC 47
  3. Feb 19, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass, 02/19/2026; Vote 4-1; CC; SC 6
  4. Feb 19, 2026SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; Refer to Finance Rule 4-5; 02/19/2026; SJ 4
  5. Mar 26, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1210s, 03/26/2026; Vote 7-0; CC; SC 11
  6. Mar 26, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-1210s, AA, VV; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
  7. Mar 26, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2026-1210s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
  8. Mar 26, 2026HouseIntroduced 03/26/2026 and referred to Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs HJ 9 P. 54
  9. Apr 8, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 04/08/2026 09:00 am GP 158
  10. Apr 15, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 04/15/2026 10:00 am GP 158
  11. Apr 15, 2026HouseMajority : Inexpedient to Legislate 04/15/2026 (Vote 10-8; RC)
  12. Apr 15, 2026HouseMinority : Ought to Pass
  13. Apr 23, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA RC 182-153 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 58

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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