Click here for a complete list of bills Bi-State is tracking. As we near the end of the 2022 NH Legislative Session, next week is a big week, as many priority bills will be on the floor to be voted on by the full NH House of Representatives and Senate. There is still time to contact your health center's representatives before the floor votes next week. You can tune in to the House and Senate sessions on YouTube: 

• Watch House Session May 4th at 10:00 am
• Watch House Session May 5th at 9:00 am
• Watch Senate Session May 5th at 10:00 am

• HB 1022 permitting pharmacists to dispense the drug ivermectin by means of a standing order: Under this bill, pharmacists would be able to dispense ivermectin under a “standing order,” without needing a prescription from someone’s physician. Two amendments, both from Sen. Bradley, were considered: #1633s and #1826s. #1633s sets up a commission to review standing orders for ivermection and evaluate making the provision permanent. Sens. Sherman and Whitley supported amendment #1633s and opposed #1826s. Sen. Bradley listed the history of standing orders in NH for other drugs like Narcan, but Sens. Sherman and Whitley said this is different: Ivermectin is not FDA approved, and two studies have shown it does not cure COVID. Senate HHS voted to approve HB 1022 with amendments by a vote of 3 to 2. 
• HB 1080 relative to the rights of conscience for medical professionals: This bill provides that health care providers have a right to conscientiously object to participating in providing abortion, sterilization, or artificial contraception services. The bill requires health care institutions to prominently post a notice to this effect and establishes civil remedies, including fines, for its violation. Sen. Avard supported ought to pass. Senate HHS voted to refer HB 1080 to interim study by a vote of 4 to 1. 
• HB 1131 prohibiting mask mandates in schools: This bill would remove a school board's ability to implement a mask mandate in the event of a medical emergency, like the Covid-19 pandemic. Senate HHS voted HB 1131 ought to pass with amendment by a vote of 3 to 2.
• HB 1210 relative to exemptions from vaccine mandates: This bill would add a new undefined “conscience” objection to exemptions from workplace vaccine mandates. Sens. Whitley and Bradley cited the testimony of employment lawyer Andrea Chatfield as most compelling. Passage of HB 1210 would put ~$2.3 billion in federal Medicaid and Medicare funding at risk annually because the federal government does not recognize a conscience objection for vaccines. Sen. Bradley said the financial risk was too great to support the bill. Sen. Avard's motion of ought to pass failed. Sens. Gray and Bradley said they could not support ought to pass. Senate HHS voted to refer HB 1210 to interim study, by a vote of 4 to 1.
• HB 1455 relative to state enforcement of federal vaccination mandates: Sen. Bradley proposed amendment #1449s, which exempts any entity that is subject to CMS and said this is a good compromise. The amendment passed 5 to 0, but Sens. Whitley and Sherman opposed the bill. Senate HHS voted HB 1455 ought to pass with amendment by a vote of 3 to 2. 
• HB 1526 relative to income eligibility for in and out medical assistance: This bill would increase access to health care by expanding the income limits for participation in NH’s “In & Out” Medical Assistance Program. Senate Finance voted HB 1526 ought to pass with amendment by a vote of 5 to 0. 
• HB 1606 making the vaccine registry opt-in: This bill would weaken NH's vaccine registry by forcing individuals to opt-in participate rather than allowing them to opt out, as is the case under current law. Senate HHS voted HB 1606 ought to pass with amendment by a vote of 4 to 1. 
• HB 1609 relative to certain provisions of the fetal life protection act requiring an ultrasound examination: This bill adds a critical exception for fatal fetal diagnoses to NH's current 24-week abortion ban and removes the requirement that all people seeking abortion care first undergo an ultrasound, at every stage of pregnancy, regardless of whether it is medically necessary. Read PPNNE's 4/29/22 recap of ongoing actions on federal and state reproductive health bills. HB 1609 is on its way to Governor Sununu for his signature!  
• SB 422 establishing an adult dental benefit under the state Medicaid program and HB 103 establishing a dental benefit under the state Medicaid program: Both bills would extend the state’s Medicaid program to cover dental services for individuals in need. Senate Finance voted HB 103 ought to pass by a vote of 6 to 0. 

Other updates: 

• The NH Senate voted down two bills to legalize cannabis: HB 629 relative to the home cultivation of cannabis plants and the possession of certain cannabis-infused products and HB 1598 legalizing the possession and use of cannabis. Read NH Bulletin article.

• The addition of long COVID as a diagnostic measure on Table 6A.
• An update in methodology for using patient chart sampling to report clinical quality measures on Tables 6B and 7.
• Updates to Appendix D: Health Information Technology Capabilities Form, including a new measure that asks health centers to report the total number of patients screened for social risk factors.