House moves quickly to approve Medicaid expansion
Updated: 6:33 PM EDT May 3, 2018
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WEBVTT EXPANSION BREEZED THROUGH THE NEW HAMPSHIRE HOUSE TODAY. WMUR POLITICAL DIRECTOR ADAM SEXTON HAS REACTION FROM THE MAIN PLAYERS. >> AYE. ADAM: ON A VOICE VOTE, THE NEW HAMPSHIRE HOUSE APPROVED A FIVE-YEAR RENEWAL OF MEDICAID EXPANSION, WHICH WILL SOON BE KNOWN AS THE NEW HAMPSHI GRANITE ADVANTAGE HEALTH CARE PROGRAM AND WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE MORE THAN 50,000 LOWER-INCOME GRANITE STATERS WITH HEALTH INSURANCE. GOV. SUNUNU: WE DID IT IN A BIPARTISAN WAY. WE’RE SAVING TAXPAYER DOLLARS. WE HAVE A GREAT WORK REQUIREMENT ON THERE, A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT’S A NEW HAMPSHIRE PLAN. ADAM: THE LACK OF DEBATE WAS A BIT ANTICLIMACTIC FOR AN ISSUE THAT’S BEEN SO HOTLY-CONTESTE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. THE BILL’S ARCHITECTS SAY IT’S AN INDICATOR THIS PROGRAM IS CEMENTING ITS LONG-TERM STATUS. SEN. BRADLEY: THIS MAKES SENSE FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE, FOR THE 50,000 PEOPLE THAT GET HEALTH INSURANCE, REDUCING UNCOMPENSATED CARE, HELPING THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AND REALLY POSITIVELY IMPACTING PEOPLE’S LIVES. ADAM: BUT A SOLID BLOC OF CONSERVATIVE OPPOSITION WARNS THAT MEDICAID EXPANSION IS SQUEEZING THE MIDDLE CLASS ON HEALTH INSURANCE AND WILL EAT UP MORE AND MORE OF THE STATE BUDGET. REP. HOELL: THIS IS GOING TO DRAMATICALLY INCREASE OUR COSTS, AND ULTIMATELY THIS WILL BE PASSED ON TO THE TAXPAYERS. ANDY: DEMOCRATS REMAIN WARY BUT STILL VOTED OVERWHELMINGLY IN SUPPORT OF REAUTHORIZATION. REP. ROSENWALD: IT’S OUR BEST WAY TO FUND OPIOID TREATMENT, AND IT’S GOOD FOR OUR HEALT
House moves quickly to approve Medicaid expansion
Updated: 6:33 PM EDT May 3, 2018
After months of work, a bill to reform and reauthorize Medicaid expansion breezed through the New Hampshire House on Thursday.
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