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SB 546 · 2026 · Senate · Health and Human Services Committee

Health insurance network access monitoring

AI-generated

relative to health carrier network access monitoring.

Requires health insurance carriers to meet the same timeliness and accessibility standards used on the health benefit exchange and directs carriers to adopt network access compliance protocols consistent with federal secret shopper audit requirements.AI-generated

Status

Referred to interim study (Senate) · March 6, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕Senate
  3. House
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill requires health insurance carriers to adhere to the same standards of timeliness and accessibility that they have to adhere to on the health benefit exchange. The bill directs the carriers to adopt network access compliance protocols consistent with the secret shopper audit requirements established by CMS for qualified health plan issuers.

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

“The purpose of such audits shall be to assess and validate carrier compliance with the appointment wait time standards and provider accessibility requirements set forth in RSA 420-J:7 and corresponding rules adopted by the insurance department.”
RSA 420-J:7-f
“Each carrier shall contract with an independent third-party entity to conduct annual secret shopper surveys.”
RSA 420-J:7-f
“Be completed no later than April 30 of each calendar year and submitted to the insurance department by May 31.”
RSA 420-J:7-f
“The insurance department shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A to implement this section, including:”
RSA 420-J:7-f

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. Cindy RosenwaldDPrimeDeputy Democratic Leader
  • Sen. Suzanne PrentissDAssistant Democratic Leader
  • Rep. Laura TelerskiDDeputy Democratic Leader
  • Rep. Carry SpierDDeputy Ranking Member· Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Also: Sen. Tim McGoughR, Rep. Julie MilesR, Rep. Santosh SalviD, Rep. Manoj ChourasiaD

Public testimony

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

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Mar 12, 2026SenateCommittee report: Referred to Interim Study5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 12, 2026SenateVoice voteRefer to Interim Studyadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 14, 2026Public hearingSenate Health and Human Services48:09–58:2910m 20slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Mar 12, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Referred to Interim Study; Refer to Interim Study — adopted, voice vote

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, 09:15 am; SC 47
  3. Mar 12, 2026Sen: Referred to Interim Study, 03/12/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 9
  4. Mar 12, 2026SenRefer to Interim Study, MA, VV; 03/12/2026; SJ 6

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

  • Introducedversion

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