Representative says insurers should pay when they require extra staff training of health providers

Representative Jack Flanagan told the Commerce Committee that House Bill 275 would prevent insurers from shifting costs to providers when the insurer requires additional training or certifications that are not licensing prerequisites.

Flanagan described a constituent dentist who was told by a Medicare Advantage plan administrator to have his entire office staff complete an LGBTQ+ or cultural-competency training before being accepted into the insurer’s network; the dentist declined because the cost at four locations would have been prohibitive. ‘‘If an insurance company wants something that is not part of the licensing or certifying requirement, then they should pay for it,’’ Flanagan said.

Witnesses and department representatives questioned the bill’s scope and whether the state could regulate federal Medicare Advantage plans. Michelle Heaton of the New Hampshire Insurance Department said the department takes no position but cautioned the draft’s broad language could create unintended consequences and increase premiums because carriers could absorb added costs.

Opponents urged caution. Anthem’s government-relations director said a third-party administrator had described federal rules that require some culturally competent…