HB1744

Ensuring mental health coverage transparency holds insurers accountable and improves access to care, advancing equitable healthcare for all residents.

I support this bill.

This bill establishing oversight and reporting for health insurance carriers will help Granite Staters who struggle with mental health and substance use disorder. Given the strong public support for aiding these people in every way possible, this bill should be voted OTP.

Please do not let Health Insurers continue to discriminate against people with mental illness. This accountability is important to keep the pressure on and to let them know that we are watching.

I am writing to you as a former Executive Director of NAMI NH and a health services researcher who has worked at the Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth. From my experience I have learned that data helps to make informed and effective policy and keeps providers and administrators accountable. This bill makes sure that health insurance plans and the state submit annual reports detailing mental health coverage and access, including utilization, claim denial rates, average wait times, network adequacy, and parity compliance. This assures that healthcare consumers are getting what they pay for and policy makers know that the laws they pass are effectively implemented. It also allows for using the data to improve weaknesses in the delivery system. Please support HB1744. Thank you.

Mental health is part of total health. When insurance is needed for health, that must include mental health. Reporting is essential for knowledge that it is being used properly.