Bill Text: NH HB556 | 2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relative to state-ordered counseling.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-09-21 - Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate (Vote 15-0; Consent Calendar) [HB556 Detail]
Download: New_Hampshire-2021-HB556-Introduced.html
HB 556 - AS INTRODUCED
2021 SESSION
21-0739
05/04
HOUSE BILL 556
AN ACT relative to state-ordered counseling.
SPONSORS: Rep. Gay, Rock. 8; Rep. Nutter-Upham, Hills. 33; Rep. M. Pearson, Rock. 34; Rep. Mullen, Hills. 7; Rep. Marsh, Carr. 8; Rep. DiLorenzo, Rock. 17; Sen. Reagan, Dist 17
COMMITTEE: Children and Family Law
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ANALYSIS
This bill provides that neither state agencies nor the courts shall require individuals to participate in counseling that has no Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) medical code and thus is ineligible for insurance reimbursement.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
21-0739
05/04
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty One
AN ACT relative to state-ordered counseling.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Child Welfare and Social Service Programs; Counseling. Amend RSA 161 by inserting after section 2-b the following new section:
161:2-c Child Welfare and Social Service Programs; Counseling. Nothing in this chapter or any other provision of law shall permit a state agency, including the state courts, or a public or private provider acting on behalf of a state agency, to require individuals to participate in counseling that has no CPT medical code, and thus is not a recognized form of mental health treatment, nor eligible for insurance reimbursement.
2 Parental Rights and Responsibilities; Parenting Plan; Court Ordered Counseling. Amend RSA 461-A:4, III to read as follows:
III. If the parties are insured and the parenting plan directs the parties to participate in counseling, the court shall give due consideration to selecting a counselor who [accepts direct payment from the parties' health insurance carrier] is a participating provider in the parties' health insurance carrier’s network. In no case shall the court require the parties to participate in any type of counseling that has no CPT medical code, and thus is not a recognized form of mental health treatment, nor eligible for insurance reimbursement.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
