SB 478 · 2026 · Senate · Health and Human Services Committee
Prescription drug affordability reforms
AI-generatedrelative to strengthening prescription drug affordability and pharmacy benefits manager accountability.
Regulates prescription drug costs by banning spread pricing, requiring pass-through pricing, directing manufacturer rebates toward lowering premiums or point-of-sale costs, banning retroactive fees on clean claims, requiring timely access to pricing lists, and permitting audits.AI-generated
Status
Referred to interim study (Senate) · March 12, 2026- ✓Introduced
- ✕Senate
- House
- Governor
- Law
Analysis
This bill regulates prescription drug costs and increases transparency and accountability by banning spread pricing, adopting pass through pricing, and ensuring all manufacturer rebates go toward lowering premiums or point-of sale costs. The bill also bans retroactive fees on clean claims, requires timely access to pricing lists, allows audits to prevent misuse, and prioritizes lowest net cost drugs.
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
“"Claims processing services" means the administrative services performed in connection with the processing and adjudicating of claims relating to pharmacist services that include:”
“The commissioner shall adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A, to implement this act, including standardized reporting formats, confidentiality protections, audit standards, and enforcement.”
“No pharmacy benefit manager may derive income from pharmacy benefit management services provided to an insurer or health plan in this state except for income derived from pharmacy benefit management fees.”
“PBMs and carriers shall file with insurance department, in a commissioner-prescribed confidential format, the following for the prior calendar year, attributable to New Hampshire lives:”
Official record
gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source
Sponsors
- Sen. Bill GannonRChair· Judiciary
- Sen. Cindy RosenwaldDDeputy Democratic Leader
- Sen. Howard PearlRChair· Executive Departments and Administration
- Sen. Regina BirdsellRMajority Leader
- Sen. Daniel InnisRChair, Majority Policy Conference
- Rep. Wayne MacDonaldRChair· Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs
- Rep. John PotucekRVice Chair· Commerce and Consumer Affairs
- Rep. Brian ColeRVice Chair· Housing
Also: Rep. Julie MilesR, Rep. Lilli WalshR
Public testimony
No one submitted online testimony on this bill. See the record
Votes
yeanay- Mar 12, 2026SenateCommittee report: Referred to Interim Study4–1Overall80% yea
- Mar 12, 2026SenateVoice voteSen. Rochefort Moved Laid on Tableadopted
Hearings and debates
- Jan 21, 2026Public hearingSenate Health and Human Services6:17:05–6:21:534m 48slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
- Mar 12, 2026Floor debateSenate floor4:38:36–4:40:161m 40slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Referred to Interim Study; Pending Motion Interim Study; SB 478 was Removed from the Consent Calendar
Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.
Legislative history
- Jan 7, 2026SenIntroduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Health and Human Services; SJ 1
- Jan 21, 2026SenHearing: 01/21/2026, Room 100, SH, 01:45 pm; SC 2
- Mar 12, 2026Sen: Referred to Interim Study, 03/12/2026; Vote 4-1; CC; SC 9
- Mar 12, 2026SenSB 478 was Removed from the Consent Calendar; 03/12/2026; SJ 6
- Mar 12, 2026SenSen. Rochefort Moved Laid on Table, MA, VV; 03/12/2026; SJ 6
- Mar 12, 2026SenPending Motion Interim Study; 03/12/2026; SJ 6
Coverage
No reporting linked yet.
Documents (PDF)
Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.