New Hampshire delays work requirement compliance deadline
In reauthorizing the state's expanded Medicaid program last year, lawmakers added rules requiring most recipients to spend at least 100 hours a month working, going to school or participating in community service.
June was the first month for which participants had to document their hours, but of the nearly 25,000 people subject to the requirements, only 8,000 complied.
The state was scheduled to send letters to the other 17,000 people this week notifying them that they were in danger of losing coverage, but instead is delaying implementation until the end of September, Health and Human Services Commissioner
In the meantime, workers from his agency and the
The state already has spent more than
"No other state has taken the effort, and the pains, if you will, of making sure we're engaging in this population as aggressively as we can in terms of making sure they have the information," he said. "Making sure we get this right is absolutely paramount, so the idea giving ourselves another 120 days to move forward on this and get the implementation where we need it to be, it's not just fair to the system, but it's fair to individuals."
In
While supporters argue that work requirements help participants achieve self-sufficiency, critics say they could jeopardize health care for hardworking people who may be struggling with child care, transportation and other issues while working low-wage jobs with fluctuating hours.
Such requirements are being challenged in court in several states, including
"I don't think we can outreach our way out of this situation," she said. "We hope our state leaders will come to the realization that there isn't a way to do this where it will work or be legal."
The ability to delay implementation was a provision of a bill Sununu signed Monday. Championed by
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