Sununu says Medicaid expansion should be permanent
CONCORD – Gov. Chris Sununu urged the Republican-led Legislature to make expansion of Medicaid coverage for low-income adults permanent over the objection of fiscal conservatives who maintain it created an “incentive” not to work in New Hampshire.
On a related front, and over the opposition of House Republican leaders, a closely-divided House narrowly approved bills Wednesday to extend Medicaid coverage to women longer after they give birth (HB 565) and to quickly grant this taxpayer-paid insurance for pregnant women and children of “green card” immigrants and victims of domestic violence (HB 282).
Senate President Jeb Bradley, R-Wolfeboro, presented his Medicaid expansion bill (SB 263) that had 17 of 24 senators as sponsors to end the temporary nature of the option under Obamacare that the Legislature first approved in 2014.
Without action by lawmakers this year, the program would go away this Dec. 31.
