Politics & Government

Medicaid Expansion Panel Approves Final Report

Gov. Maggie Hassan said she will call for a special session of the Legislature in November to consider the recommendations.

The state's Medicaid Expansion Commission voted Tuesday to adopt a report recommending that nearly 50,000 people be added to the Medicaid program in New Hampshire.

The vote is just the first step in a long process. Now it will be up to the Legislature to debate how the expansion gets implemented.

Following Tuesday's vote, Gov. Maggie Hassan issued a statement praising the report and announced that she will call for a November special session of the Legislature in November to consider the recommendations.

Hassan said she will ask the Executive Council on Wednesday to support calling a special session for Nov. 7 through Nov. 21. Those dates have already been agreed to by the governor, Senate President Chuck Morse and House Speaker Terie Norelli.

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The study commission recommended that New Hampshire move forward with expansion of Medicaid for individuals at up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level by January 1 in order to maximize the available 100 percent federal funding for the first three years. The commission’s report also includes options for helping individuals stay on private insurance and for protecting New Hampshire’s long-term budget outlook as the federal match gradually shifts to no less than 90 percent.

"Accepting the $2.5 billion in federal funds available for Medicaid expansion is the right thing to do for the health and financial well-being of hard-working Granite Staters and for the future of our economy,” Hassan said. "The study commission’s diligent work thoroughly examined the options and recommended New Hampshire-specific solutions, including for promoting private insurance coverage and protecting New Hampshire’s financial interests."

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"Our commission set out to provide a fair, open and comprehensive process for studying the issue of Medicaid expansion in order to allow all voices to be heard and all concerns to be addressed," study commission Chairman Jim Varnum added. "I believe we have met that standard and fulfilled our requirement to produce recommendations that reflect the best interests of New Hampshire. I join the bipartisan majority of the commission in encouraging the Legislature to enact a New Hampshire plan for Medicaid expansion as quickly as possible."


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