ACTION ALERT !!!!!

HB 602 - Hearing Tuesday, February 2nd at 9:30M.

HB 602 - relative to reimbursements for telemedicine, is scheduled for a public hearing before the House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee. We need your assistance to register opposition to this bill, which seeks to undo important provisions of HB 1623, the telehealth law enacted last year. NHNPA will be attending the hearing and registering opposition. 

Telehealth has been critical for access to primary care, behavioral health care, substance use disorder treatment and recovery, and a wide range of other health care services during the Covid-19 pandemic. It would be a regressive and short-sighted move to limit its use now.  In the post-pandemic world, telehealth will not be the only or even the primary means of providing service, but it will continue to be an important component in the provision of health care services.  

Briefly, HB 602 will do away with reimbursement parity for telehealth services.  It will also eliminate the use of audio-only telephone or facsimile. This will have an immediate negative impact on NH citizens who do not have access to or cannot afford internet connectivity or a computer/tablet/smartphone.  Click here for bill language

The Legislature created a Telehealth Study Commission just a few months ago to look at long term policy issues. That Commission needs time to do its work and report back to the Legislature before big changes are made in how NH citizens are able to get healthcare. Last year, NHNPA successfully advocated for representation on this committee!

Please submit your opposition to this bill by registering on the House Health & Human Services sign-in sheet for HB 602. This is a very simple process requiring less than 3 minutes of effort - YOU CAN DO IT NOW - THERE IS NO NEED TO WAIT UNTIL TUESDAY. Click here to register in opposition: http://gencourt.state.nh.us/house/committees/remotetestimony/default.aspx

If you want to reach out to Committee members before the February 2nd hearing, here is a link to their contact information: http://gencourt.state.nh.us/house/committees/committeedetails.aspx?id=4 

Thank you!