Hassan: Senate Medicaid Plan Sets NH Up for Failure

Gov. Maggie Hassan on Friday urged the state Senate to end its "my way or the highway approach" to expanding Medicaid.

Hassan, Speaker of the House Terie Norelli and Dr. Tom Sherman, a Democratic state representative from Rye, all asked Senate leaders during a rally at Hampton's Lane Memorial Library to do what's "right" and agree on a solution that fully utilizes the $2.4 billion in federal funds available to expand Medicaid.

The Senate has rejected a House plan that proposes using the federal funds to fully cover three years of private insurance costs for eligible adults on employer-sponsored plans, as well as enroll other individuals into managed care programs, according to Hassan. No less than 90 percent of the costs would be covered after those three years.

Instead, Hassan said the Senate countered with a bill that includes provisions for only one year of coverage and only six to nine months to develop the new systems and approvals that oversee that coverage.

Hassan said this is "unacceptable" because it'll leave many without coverage and doesn't foster enough competition to prevent profit-seeking companies from taking advantage of the individuals directed through the federal insurance marketplace once the Senate's bill ends.

"I will not set up our state and our families for failure," said Hassan, calling full Medicaid expansion a "good deal" for New Hampshire citizens. "We are so close. We can do this... Our doors continue to be open for productive discussions. Let's get this done."

View the video above for more information from Friday's rally in Hampton.

The new bipartisan federal law allowing states to expand Medicaid through federal funding will begin on Jan. 1. A vote is expected on New Hampshire's Medicaid expansion plan on Nov. 21, and while negotiations are ongoing, Hassan said the Senate has so far refused to consider any timeline other than the one outlined in its bill. 

Hassan, Norelli and Sherman were joined Friday by Hampton State Reps. Renny Cushing and Chris Muns, Durham State Rep. Tim Horrigan, Newmarket State Rep. Michael Cahill, Rockingham County Democratic Committee Chairman Larry Drake and many others.

Many residents were also in attendance, including former Hampton Republican State Reps. Jim Waddell and Chris Nevins. State Sen. Nancy Stiles (R-Hampton) wasn't in attendance, and Hassan and Norelli urged Stiles and other Republican senators who support Medicaid expansion to hear them out and reconsider a plan that has received bipartisan support from throughout the country.

"We need a plan that is built for success from 'Day 1,' a plan that fosters stability and security," said Norelli. "I am confident that the House plan, which is based on the work of the bipartisan commission, is exactly that."