HB1653 Relative to emergency medical care provided at freestanding hospital emergency facilities.
Relative to emergency medical care provided at freestanding hospital emergency facilities.
Impact Score — How Does This Bill Affect You?
Overall Impact Score
Mixed
Scale: 1 (harmful) to 10 (beneficial)
Your Wallet
Regulation of freestanding ERs could protect patients from surprise high bills when they unknowingly visit a facility charging hospital-level rates.
Your Community
Better regulation ensures freestanding ERs serve community needs rather than maximizing revenue from unsuspecting patients.
Your Freedom
Healthcare regulation that primarily affects facility operations, not patient choice.
Status
Lay HB1653 on Table (Rep. W. MacDonald): Motion Adopted DV 173-158 03/05/2026 House Journal 6 P. 116
Sponsor
Laura Telerski (D)
The Short Version
Addresses emergency medical care at freestanding emergency facilities not attached to full hospitals. These standalone ERs can fill gaps in rural areas but often charge hospital-level prices for basic urgent care services.
Who's Behind This Bill?
Who Benefits
- ▲ Patients seeking emergency care
- ▲ Residents in underserved areas needing ER access
- ▲ Insurance companies and employers managing healthcare costs
Who Pays the Price
- ▼ Freestanding emergency facility operators
- ▼ Healthcare companies investing in standalone ER models
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.