Letter to Representatives: Oppose HB 524
Dear New Hampshire Representatives,
On behalf of health care, public health, clinical provider organizations, and insurers, as well as the thousands of Granite State individuals and families that benefit from New Hampshire’s universal vaccine purchasing program, we are writing to express our strong opposition to HB 524, which seeks to repeal the New Hampshire Vaccine Association (NHVA).
As organizations dedicated to protecting and promoting the health and well-being of New Hampshire residents, we believe that the NHVA plays an essential role in ensuring access to life-saving vaccines for all children, particularly those who are underinsured or uninsured, while reducing health care costs.
The NHVA, a nonprofit organization created by legislation in 2002, was established to support the equitable and efficient purchase and distribution of recommended and safe vaccines to all children in NH under age 19. The NHVA is an extremely cost-efficient model which has been replicated in 14 other states. By collecting payments from health plans, insurers, and other payers and remitting the funds to the state, they make it possible for:
- Physicians, clinics, and hospitals to receive state-supplied vaccines at no charge.
- All children to have easy access to critical vaccines.
- All payers to participate in one of the most efficient, cost-effective systems in the country for purchasing and distributing childhood vaccines.
While the NHVA does not set immunization policy, receive state funds or determine which immunization the state purchases, its pass-through funding mechanism helps support the Department of Health and Human Services in their ability to purchase vaccines at a heavily discounted rate and provide vaccines to healthcare providers, which can be administered to all children regardless of insurance status. The program saves 30% annually on childhood immunization purchases and has total administrative costs of less than one percent (<1%), which are covered 100% by commercial insurers and group health plans administered by third party administrators.
If HB 524 were to pass and the NHVA was repealed, it would require vaccine procurement by individual providers, which lack the collective bargaining power of the state. This will lead to higher vaccine costs for providers and insurers, reduce overall efficiency, and likely increase healthcare expenses for patients. Repealing the NHVA would also have serious consequences for public health in New Hampshire. Without these accessible vaccines achieved through efficient funding, there would be no way to guarantee universal access for all children, which would burden families and decrease community immunity, further straining our healthcare system.
The Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee heard testimony in opposition from everyone in attendance except for one person. Over 3,000 people signed in to oppose HB 524, and there have been multiple op-eds by providers opposed to the bill.
For those of us working within health care and public health, we see firsthand the positive impact of the NHVA’s programs in supporting the health and safety of New Hampshire’s children while keeping heath care costs down.
With this in mind, we ask you to oppose HB 524.
Respectfully,
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
Anthem BCBS
Bi-State Primary Care Association
Cigna Healthcare
Derry Medical Center
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
New Futures
New Hampshire Advance Practice Registered Nurses
New Hampshire Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
New Hampshire Community Behavioral Health Association
New Hampshire Hospital Association
New Hampshire Medical Society
New Hampshire Nurses Association
New Hampshire Public Health Association
New Hampshire School Nurses Association
Capital Area Public Health Network
Greater Monadnock Public Health Network
Greater Sullivan County Regional Public Health Network
North Country Health Consortium
Seacoast Public Health Network
Strafford County Public Health Network
Upper Valley Regional Public Health Network
