Medicaid expansion clears first hurdle in NH House
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The reauthorization bill, SB 313, includes new work or community-service requirements for certain participants and conversion of the program to an HMO-style managed-care approach, instead of fee for service.
Funding for the state share of the expansion would come in part from the state's Alcohol and
The federal government initially paid the entire cost of the expansion but the state has had to pay 5 percent of the cost for the past two years, rising to 10 percent by 2020.
Supporters of expansion argued that the program brings more than
Failure to reauthorize the program, they argued, would increase uncompensated care and force hospitals or other providers to shift those costs to patients who have private insurance.
"The burden of uncompensated care is an existential threat to our rural, community hospitals," said Rep.
The bill passed the
Opponents said expanded Medicaid has not contributed to lower health-care costs, and will become an unsustainable drain on state finances.
"We were promised that no state funds will be used for this program, but now we are told we can divert money from the state-run liquor stores to make up that difference," said Rep.
Cordelli said there are hidden costs in the bill, including a promised workforce development program to help welfare recipients comply with the work requirement of at least 100 hours per month.
"There is
Cordelli also pointed out that other states with work requirements have found the cost of monitoring compliance to range from
Rep.
"This bill as it stands makes a mockery of the majority of the families in this state who have to work very hard to pay for their health insurance," he said. "We owe it to them to be extremely judicious about who gets to be eligible for this program."
Rep.
He estimated the state's share of the new program at
"There is absolutely no support in
Before passing the bill, the House adopted amendments that would allow self-employment to fulfill the work requirement and allow seasonal workers to use average of hours worked over a six-month period to comply.
The bill now moves to the
"The debate has been long and hard and thorough," said HHS Committee Chair
Four years ago, the current
On Thursday, 66
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