HB725 Relative to ground ambulance services.
Relative to ground ambulance services.
Impact Score — How Does This Bill Affect You?
Overall Impact Score
Mixed
Scale: 1 (harmful) to 10 (beneficial)
Your Wallet
While eliminating surprise ambulance bills protects patients from unexpected charges, the fiscal note projects insurance premiums will rise by approximately 0.5% ($15 million aggregate) to cover higher ambulance reimbursement rates, offsetting savings for many residents.
Your Community
Local and county ambulance services gain payment certainty and higher reimbursement rates, though municipalities purchasing health insurance will face higher premium costs, creating a mixed effect on community budgets.
Your Freedom
Patients gain protection from balance billing but insurers and ambulance providers face new regulatory constraints on billing and payment practices.
Status
Inexpedient to Legislate: Motion Adopted Voice Vote 01/07/2026 House Journal 1 P. 46
Sponsor
Jerry Stringham (D)
The Short Version
This bill prohibits health insurers from charging ambulance patients extra fees beyond their normal copay/deductible and requires insurers to pay nonparticipating ambulance providers at rates no higher than 325% of Medicare rates or local government-set rates. The fiscal note estimates this will increase health insurance premiums by approximately $1.13-$1.38 per member per month (roughly 0.5% or $15 million aggregate), with potential for higher increases if municipalities set ambulance rates above the Medicare baseline.
Who's Behind This Bill?
Who Benefits
- ▲ Ambulance patients who receive care from nonparticipating ambulance providers—protected from surprise balance bills
- ▲ County and municipal ambulance services—guaranteed minimum payment at 325% of Medicare rates or locally-set rates
- ▲ Local governments with ambulance services—gain predictable reimbursement schedules
Who Pays the Price
- ▼ Health insurance premium payers—estimated 0.5% increase in premiums ($15 million aggregate in commercial market)
- ▼ Municipalities and counties purchasing health insurance—will pay higher premiums
- ▼ Health insurance carriers—required to pay higher ambulance reimbursement rates than current practice
Bill statuses as of October 7, 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.