Bill > SB125

This bill updates the clinical eligibility criteria for nursing facility and home and community-based care services in New Hampshire. It adds "mobility" to the list of activities of daily living (ADLs) that are considered when determining a person's eligibility for long-term care services, expands the definition of skilled professional medical personnel by updating a federal reference, and changes the process for medical eligibility determinations. The bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to obtain input from an applicant's primary care physician or nurse practitioner when assessing eligibility, and gives the department staff broader authority to collect medical information from various healthcare providers. Importantly, for annual redeterminations, the bill stipulates that an applicant cannot be denied eligibility without agreement from their primary care provider that they no longer meet the required level of care. The department has expressed concerns about potential implementation challenges, including lack of clarity around the definition of "mobility" and potential delays in processing applications. While the bill does not provide additional funding, the department estimates potential additional costs exceeding $5 million annually, which would be split between state general funds and federal matching funds.

Health and Social Services

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_docket.aspx?lsr=1000&sy=2025&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2025&txtbillnumber=SB125