NH Legislature takes a step toward healthcare law

In the week following the New Hampshire Senate's rejection of federal funding to educate residents about the Affordable Care Act, the state's House and Senate are working on a new bill aimed at defining healthcare rules to accommodate the federal legislation.

Gov. Maggie Hassan announced last year that New Hampshire would develop a healthcare exchange - a marketplace for individuals and consumers seeking to purchase insurance coverage - in partnership with the federal government.

The state insurance commissioner has urged legislators to adopt a bill that would implement various changes to preserve the state's control over insurance plan regulation as benefits providers seek to sell their products on the exchange. However, critics state such legislation would put all the responsibility in the hands of the state. 

On Wednesday, House and Senate negotiated came up with a three-paragraph bill to replace the original 15-page draft, the source reported.

Critics of the new legislation, including the insurance commissioner, stated it doesn't ensure the state's control over healthcare in New Hampshire and gives the federal government the ability to regulate all health insurance products sold in the state, not just those sold on the benefits exchange.