Lawmakers accept $1.1m federal grant to study mental health insurance

Oct. 22--Lawmakers accept $1.1m federal grant to study mental health insurance

By DAVE SOLOMON

State House Bureau

October 22. 2017 12:08AM

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- It took three tries, but lawmakers on Friday finally agreed to accept a $1.1 million federal grant to study how insurance companies treat people with mental health problems or substance abuse disorders.

Gov. Chris Sununu, Insurance Commissioner Roger Sevigny and advocacy groups in the substance abuse and mental health arenas supported the measure, but it failed twice before the Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee, which is empowered to accept federal grants.

The committee voted unanimously to accept the grant after agreeing that many of its previous questions were answered.

The money will be used to hire contractors who will work with the Insurance Department to investigate whether health insurers are complying with legal requirements regarding coverage of behavioral health and substance abuse.

The committee also voted to apply to the federal government for a waiver from Medicaid rules to enable the state to implement a work requirement for able-bodied adults.

The budget trailer bill that passed the Legislature and was signed into law by Sununu included a work requirement for certain Medicaid recipients. The federal government does not allow such requirements under existing law, so the state needs a waiver.

The Fiscal Committee must approve such a waiver application and, as expected, it did so on a voice vote.

"This provision protects taxpayers and provides an incentive for childless, able-bodied citizens to participate in the workforce if they are to be enrolled in the program. Our state needs workers, and this creates a pathway between program participants and our business community looking to fill jobs in this growing economy," said House Majority Leader Richard Hinch, R-Merrimack. "We believe this is a reasonable personal responsibility measure."

Sununu applauded the move.

"Implementing work requirements for able bodied adults on Medicaid will help us manage costs, promote employment, lift people out of poverty and put them on a pathway to achieving the American dream," he said. "We look forward to working with the Trump Administration as the process moves forward to ensure this important waiver is granted."

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