Every Granite Stater deserves access to health care close to home when they need it. That means being able to see a doctor when you're sick, get timely mental health support, and find doctors who are available and accepting patients. Yet too many face long waits, outdated provider directories, and the frustration of discovering an in-network doctor isn't taking new patients. In fact, one in four insured adults had a time in the past year when an in-network doctor they needed didn't have available appointments.1 Right now, private insurance companies self-report whether they have enough available doctors, and state regulators have no way to verify what patients actually experience when they try to make an appointment. That's why 91% of insured adults support policies requiring accurate, up-to-date information about in-network doctors.1
SB 546 ensures Granite State patients can access timely health care through their insurance plan, using proven methods already required for public insurance programs.
About the Bill
SB 546 would use "secret shopper" audits to verify patients with private insurance can actually access care. These audits work simply: independent reviewers anonymously call doctors, just like a real patient would, to check whether doctors are available and accepting new patients. This same method is already used by the federal government for Medicaid and Marketplace plans because it's an effective, low-cost way to see what patients actually experience when trying to get care. The audits would then be reported to the New Hampshire Insurance Department, which works to ensure a fair health insurance market. By extending this oversight tool to private insurance coverage, we can help ensure every New Hampshire patient can get the care they need when they need it.
Bill Status
March 12: The Senate voted to send SB 546 to Interim Study, which means the bill will no longer be worked on this session. New Futures will continue working to ensure insurance companies meet network adequacy standards so Granite State patients can access timely care.
March 4: The Senate Health and Human Services Committee referred SB 546 to Interim Study, which would mean the bill would no longer be worked on this session.
January 14, 2026: The Senate Health and Human Services Committee held a public hearing on SB 546.
December 2025: The bill was assigned as SB 546 and its text was released.
September 2025: The bill was introduced and a legislative service request was filed.
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References
- Pollitz, K., Pestaina, K., Montero, A., Lopes, L., Valdes, I., Kirzinger, A., & Brodie, M. (2025, August 9). KFF Survey of Consumer Experiences with Health Insurance. KFF. https://www.kff.org/affordable-care-act/kff-survey-of-consumer-experiences-with-health-insurance
