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Medicaid expansion ensures all Granite Staters have access to health care. 

The future of Medicaid expansion is in the hands of New Hampshire lawmakers in 2023. Without reauthorization by the state legislature, Medicaid expansion will expire on December 31, 2023 and thousands of Granite Staters will lose access to their health insurance. 

A 2023 Senate Bill (SB 263) calls for the permanent reauthorization of Medicaid expansion. 
 

text that reads: Reauthorize #MedEx. To the right of the words, the cutout of the state of New Hampshire

SB 263 passed the House of Representatives on May 18 in a preliminary vote. The bill was re-referred to the House Finance Committee, which voted to retain it. However, the Senate Finance Committee included a seven-year reauthorization in their budget proposal - the full Senate will vote on the committee's budget proposal on Wednesday, June 7.

 

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  • Since the program was launched in 2014 as part of the Affordable Care Act, more than 219,000 Granite Staters have used Medicaid expansion to access health care services. Over 90,000 adults aged 19-64 are currently getting the health care they need and deserve thanks to the program. Expanded Medicaid is available to individuals who earn $18,075 or less per year (or less than $36,908 for a family of four). 
  • Through Medicaid expansion, enrollees are able to access physical, mental, dental, and recovery health services, fill prescriptions, and seek emergency care. Insurance plans are provided by AmeriHealth Caritas New Hampshire, NH Healthy Families, or WellSense Health Plan. 
  • Medicaid expansion is New Hampshire's best tool in the fight against the ongoing substance use and mental health crisis. The program has helped expand the state's substance use and mental health treatment capacity. 

Associated Press: Medicaid expansion bill advances in New Hampshire (5/18/23) 
The New Hampshire House gave preliminary approval Thursday to making the state’s expanded Medicaid program permanent, rejecting attempts to set another expiration date or otherwise change it.

Commentary: Medicaid expansion has provided health care coverage to NH workers, supported the economy (NH Bulletin, 5/17/23)  

Phil Sletten, research director at New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute, writes that Medicaid expansion has improved access to health care for New Hampshire’s workers and residents with low incomes while supporting the overall economy, based on NHFPI research published earlier this year.

 

Union Leader: As key vote nears, advocates push for permanent Medicaid expansion (5/9/23)

On the eve of what could be a pivotal vote, advocates for business, seniors and health care providers urged a House panel to support Medicaid expansion on a permanent basis.

 

WMUR: New Hampshire businesses call for Medicaid expansion to be made permanent (5/9/23) 

Health care hangs in the balance for tens of thousands of Granite Staters this year as lawmakers in Concord debate the reauthorization of Medicaid expansion.

 

InDepth NH: Health Care, Business Leaders Urge House to Pass Permanent Medicaid Expansion (5/9/23)

Healthcare, business, and elder affairs leaders across the state spoke strongly in favor of a permanent expanded Medicaid program without a sunset clause saying it will save the state money in the end and help with better health outcomes for residents.

 

WMUR: New Hampshire state Senate unanimously approves permanent renewal of Medicaid expansion program (3/10/23) 

The New Hampshire state Senate voted unanimously Thursday to approve the permanent renewal of the Medicaid expansion program. The state's expanded Medicaid program provides health care coverage to 50,000 to 60,000 low-income Granite States and it was up for renewal this year.

 

Opinion: Fiscal responsibility drives our Granite Advantage (Foster's Daily Democrat, 3/3/23) 

Sen. Jim Gray: The cost of health care has been a historically harsh reality for families across the United States, and it’s not only an issue for the uninsured.

 

Opinion: What if Medicaid expansion isn’t reauthorized? Ask your doctor – they’ll tell you. (Union Leader, 1/30/23) 

Dr. Meredith Milligan, a family physician, discusses the importance of health insurance for her patients and highlights the importance of Medicaid Expansion. 

 

NH Bulletin: Analysis find Medicaid expansion a boon for public health, workforce, hospitals (1/20/23)

Continuing Medicaid expansion has done more than improve recipients’ health through earlier cancer screenings, increased dental treatment, and enhanced pregnancy care, according to the analysis

 

Opinion: Medicaid expansion should be permanent in NH (Union Leader, published 1/18/23)

Christopher Kozak, president of Community Partners in Dover, a member of the Community Behavioral Health Association, highlights the importance of Medicaid expansion in New Hampshire, especially for those receiving treatment for mental health and substance use disorders. 

 

NH Bulletin: With Medicaid expansion back before lawmakers, supporters point to all that’s at stake (published 1/5/23)

Health care for tens of thousands of New Hampshire residents is on the line this year, with the Legislature set to debate the renewal of expanded Medicaid.

 

WMUR: New Hampshire lawmakers to consider whether to renew expanded Medicaid (aired 1/4/23)

Health care for tens of thousands of New Hampshire residents is on the line this year, with the Legislature set to debate the renewal of expanded Medicaid.

 

Union Leader: Single mom give emotional testimony for Medicaid expansion (published 1/4/23)

Amber MacQuarrie, a single mother of two from Dublin, said getting health coverage under Medicaid expansion became her lifeline after serious family health problems led to her losing a business and a rented home.

 

Concord Monitor: Reauthorization of expanded Medicaid seen as critical to New Hampshire’s mental health crisis, state’s workforce (published 1/4/23)

New Hampshire’s healthcare professionals, advocates, and Medicaid recipients pushed the state to reauthorize the Medicaid expansion, which is set to expire at the end of this year, at a press conference on Wednesday in the Legislative Office Building.

 

InDepth NH: Business Leaders, Advocates Call for Reauthorization of Medicaid Expansion (published 1/4/23)

Healthcare providers and business leaders called for the reauthorization of Medicaid expansion in New Hampshire as the new legislative session begins.

NHPR: NH Lawmakers have lots on their plate this year (published 1/2/23)

NHPR highlights Medicaid expansion as one of the many policy issues that with demand lawmakers' attention this legislative session. 

NH Business: Political decisions about health care (aired 11/27/22)

Fred Kocher is joined by Courtney Tanner and David Juvet to discuss how upcoming political decisions will impact health care in the Granite State.