You asked for information on a recently passed New Hampshire law on vaccine access.

SUMMARY

A recently adopted New Hampshire law (Chapter 279, HB 1467), establishes the New Hampshire Vaccine Association, which will assess insurers for the cost of vaccines provided to children in New Hampshire. The state Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) commissioner will use these funds to purchase vaccines.

NEW HAMPSHIRE LAW ON VACCINE ACCESS

New Hampshire's new law on vaccine access, signed on May 18, 2002, establishes a not-for-profit corporation (the New Hampshire Vaccine Association) consisting of the state's health insurers. The association's board of directors include (1) three representatives from the licensed insurers having the most covered lives in the state; (2) two health care provider representatives appointed by the DHHS commissioner; (3) the DHHS commissioner; and (4) the Department of Insurance commissioner.

The association must raise funds to pay for the cost of vaccines over and above the amount funded by the federal government and the state. The law covers vaccines approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration, recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and authorized by the DHHS commissioner for administration to New Hampshire children under age 19.

The association members must develop a formula and assess each insurer based on the number of individuals covered in the state. The assessments will be revised annually each fall. Currently, the state purchases federally approved vaccines at the federal discount rate of 37 cents to the dollar and makes them available free of charge to all children ages 18 years and under.

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