HB1638 Creating a bypass mechanism for health insurer step therapy protocols when medically necessary.
Creating a bypass mechanism for health insurer step therapy protocols when medically necessary.
Impact Score — How Does This Bill Affect You?
Overall Impact Score
Mixed
Scale: 1 (harmful) to 10 (beneficial)
Your Wallet
Patients could access needed medications faster, avoiding costs from failed treatments and worsened conditions during step therapy.
Your Community
Gives doctors and patients more control over treatment decisions, improving health outcomes for those with complex conditions.
Your Freedom
Restores medical decision-making authority to patients and doctors rather than insurance company protocols.
Status
Refer for Interim Study: Motion Adopted Voice Vote 03/11/2026 House Journal 7
Sponsor
David Nagel (R)
The Short Version
Would create a way for patients and doctors to bypass insurance step therapy (fail first) requirements when medically necessary. Step therapy forces patients to try cheaper medications first, even when doctors believe a different treatment is more appropriate.
Who's Behind This Bill?
Who Benefits
- ▲ Patients with complex or rare conditions needing specific medications
- ▲ Physicians seeking clinical autonomy
- ▲ Patients suffering under fail-first requirements
Who Pays the Price
- ▼ Health insurance companies managing drug costs through step therapy
- ▼ Employers and policyholders if premiums increase slightly
Bill statuses as of May 2026. Check LegiScan or NH General Court for the latest.
This bill was auto-scored using AI analysis of the bill text and legislative data. Scores may be refined as we review more bills.