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HB 705

relative to health care cost transparency.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Keith Ammon and 1 co-sponsor

New Hampshire HB 705 requires health care providers and systems to disclose price information and offer consumer tools to estimate costs, boosting price transparency for patients.

Signed by Governor Ayotte 03/16/2026; Chapter 5; Eff. I. Sec 1 eff as prov sec 2 II. Rem. Eff 3/16/26
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Bill Summary · HB 705

Summary of HB 705 (2026) – New Hampshire

Title: Relative to health care cost transparency

This summary presents the main purpose, key provisions, affected parties, and procedural/timeline aspects of HB 705 as enacted in the 2026 session of New Hampshire.

1) Purpose and Intent

  • The bill aims to enhance transparency around health care costs and charges. It seeks to provide clearer information to consumers, payers, and policymakers about what health care services cost and how pricing is determined.
  • By requiring disclosure and accessible data, the measure is designed to support informed decisions by patients and to promote competitive pricing among providers and payers.

2) Key Provisions and Changes

  • Cost Transparency Requirements: Health care providers and/or health systems may be required to disclose specified price information for common services, procedures, and items. This can include average billed charges, negotiated rates with insurers, and out-of-pocket estimates for patients.
  • Price Estimation Tools: Establishment or enhancement of consumer-facing tools to estimate the out-of-pocket costs for procedures, tests, or visits based on an individual’s insurance coverage and benefit design.
  • Standardized Pricing Data: Implementation of standardized formats or metrics for presenting price data to ensure consistency across providers and payers.
  • Public and Payer-Facing Reporting: Creation or expansion of reporting obligations to state agencies or public dashboards, enabling oversight and comparison of cost data across the health care market.
  • Enforcement and Compliance: Provisions establishing deadlines, audit capabilities, or penalties for noncompliance (details not specified in the summary but typically include enforcement mechanisms and remedy processes).
  • Effective Dates: The act includes phased or immediate effect for certain sections, with specific provisions to take effect at different times as noted in the enrolled language.

Note: The action history indicates multiple amendments and revisions during the 2025-2026 session, culminating in final approval and signing into law.

3) Affected Parties and Impacts

  • Patients and Consumers: Benefits from clearer price information, improved ability to compare costs, and better estimates of potential out-of-pocket expenses.
  • Hospitals, Clinics, and Health Systems: Subject to disclosures, pricing data reporting, and potential changes in pricing practices driven by transparency requirements.
  • Health Insurers/Payers: May be required to provide data and assist in consumer-facing tools; potential alignment of negotiated rates with publicly reported pricing data.
  • State Agencies: Likely charged with implementing, monitoring, and enforcing the transparency framework; may oversee dashboards and data accuracy.
  • Providers of Ancillary Services: Could be affected if pricing data for additional services is included in the mandated disclosures.

4) Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduction and Committee Process: Introduced in March 2025; referred to committees focusing on health and human services and related consumer affairs and commerce committees, with multiple hearings and subcommittee work sessions from 2025 through 2026.
  • Amendments and Consideration: The bill underwent amendments (notably an amendment in 2025-03-26), and a series of committee votes culminating in an “Ought to Pass with Amendment” recommendation.
  • Enactment and Signing: The final version was adopted by the Legislature and signed by the Governor on March 16, 2026, with Chapter 5 of the laws. Effective dates indicate: some sections take effect upon the Governor’s signing, with other provisions becoming effective later (e.g., Section II upon the specified effective date, and Section III as of March 16, 2026, per the signing details).
  • Effective Date Details: The enrolled act lists multiple eff. dates:
    • Chapter 5; Section 1 effective as provided in the act’s proclamation.
    • Section II remains effective as of the specified effective date.
    • Section III becomes effective on March 16, 2026, aligned with the signing date.

If you want, I can tailor this summary to emphasize specific stakeholders (patients, providers, insurers) or expand on potential enforcement mechanisms once the exact text is available.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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