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HB 1368 · 2026 · House · Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee

Study on rural primary care access

AI-generated

establishing a committee to study the availability of and access to primary care providers, especially in rural areas of the state.

Establishes a committee to study the availability of and access to primary care providers, particularly in rural areas of the state.AI-generated

Status

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

Analysis

This bill establishes a committee to study the availability of and access to primary care providers, especially in rural areas of the state.

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

“There is established a committee to study the status and sustainability of primary care providers (PCPs) in New Hampshire, with particular attention to rural areas and access to care.”
Section 1
“This shall include identifying the number of providers at risk of closure, determining the ratio of providers to patients, assessing the distance patients must travel to access a PCP, and analyzing the demographics of rural patient populations, particularly in areas at risk of losing access to primary care.”
Section 3
“The committee shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2026.”
Section 5
“The committee shall also examine how PCPs can generate additional revenue and whether the state of New Hampshire should increase commercial reimbursement of billings by PCPs and reduce the turnaround times on reimbursements.”
Section 3

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Thomas OppelDPrime

Public testimony

122 signed in online · 10 wrote testimony

99% support1% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“Finding and accessing primary care can be difficult, especially in rural and underserved communities. Patients wait longer appointments or are traveling far from home to receive care. House Bill 1368 is a thoughtful and practical step forward.…”
— Cathy Stratton, Concord · New Hampshire Medical Societysupports
“Children who identify as a gender other than those assigned at birth are extremely vulnerable and need supportive adults around them to help them navigate the life-changing decisions they will make.…”
— Steve Varnum, Concordsupports
“This is important. Back in 2003 or so we had a primary care provider shortage in the Concord area (because malpractice insurance became outrageously unaffordable after 9/11) and we can’t go through that again.”
— Margaret Konze, Pembrokesupports

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 Legislate18–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 5, 2026HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 11, 2026Public hearingHouse Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs2:36:50–3:07:4730m 57slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 18, 2026Public hearingHouse Health, Human Services and Elderly AffairsWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Executive Session
  • Mar 5, 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 Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs HJ 1 P. 17
  2. Feb 11, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 02/11/2026 11:00 am GP 158
  3. Feb 18, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/18/2026 02:30 pm GP 158
  4. Feb 18, 2026House: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/18/2026 (Vote 18-0; CC) HC 9 P. 17
  5. Mar 5, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/05/2026 HJ 6 P. 19

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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