NH HB1653

Requires freestanding hospital emergency facilities (FHEFs) to give patients the option to choose their receiving hospital when a transfer is medically necessary, rather than being limited to the parent hospital that owns the FHEF

Prohibits FHEFs from restricting transfers exclusively to affiliated hospitals, conditioning treatment based on insurance status, or using steering or coercion to limit patient choice

Bans contracts with emergency medical services (EMS) providers that require or encourage exclusive transfers to affiliated or parent hospitals

Mandates that patient hospital transfer choices be documented in medical records, and when patients cannot choose, transfers must go to the closest appropriate facility

Directs the Department of Health and Human Services to adopt final rules by June 30, 2027, with pattern violations referred to the Department of Justice as unfair or deceptive trade practices under RSA 358-A