Signed by Governor Maggie Hassan

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that expands Medicaid Eligibility.

Highlights:

• Establishes the New Hampshire Health Protection Program under the direction of the Commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services and authorizes it to manage medical assistance programs for individuals who are “newly eligible” for Medicaid under federal law (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that “newly eligible” individuals are those who meet the requirements for Medicaid under federal law and have an income that is no more than 133 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (Sec. 1).

• Requires the commissioner to provide access to the Health Insurance Premium Payment (HIPP) program to a newly eligible individual, the individual’s spouse, and the individual’s dependents until December 31, 2016 (Sec. 2).

• Requires a newly eligible individual who has access to a qualified employer-sponsored insurance, either directly or through another individual, to participate in the HIPP Program, unless the insurance is determined to not be “cost-effective” (Sec. 2).

• Establishes the following programs to provide medical assistance to a newly eligible individual, the individual’s spouse, and the individual’s dependents, if the individual does not qualify for the HIPP program (Sec. 2):
• The Voluntary Bridge to Marketplace Premium Assistance Program, until March 31, 2015; and
• The Marketplace Premium Assistance Program, until December 31, 2016.

• Prohibits a newly eligible individual from coverage through a medical assistance program until the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services receive and approve a Medicaid Section 1115 Demonstration Waiver from the commissioner (Secs. 2-5).

• Specifies that the costs of medical assistance provided by the HIPP Program, the Voluntary Bridge to Marketplace Premium Assistance Program, and the Marketplace Premium Assistance Program will be paid for by federal funds (Sec. 2).

• Requires the provisions of this bill to be immediately repealed if the federal match rate for medical assistance programs for newly eligible individuals is less than 100 percent at any time between July 1, 2014 and December 31, 2016 (Sec. 10).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that expands Medicaid Eligibility.

Highlights:

• Establishes the New Hampshire Health Protection Program under the direction of the Commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services and authorizes it to manage medical assistance programs for individuals who are “newly eligible” for Medicaid under federal law (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that “newly eligible” individuals are those who meet the requirements for Medicaid under federal law and have an income that is no more than 133 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (Sec. 1).

• Requires the commissioner to provide access to the Health Insurance Premium Payment (HIPP) program to a newly eligible individual, the individual’s spouse, and the individual’s dependents until December 31, 2016 (Sec. 2).

• Requires a newly eligible individual who has access to a qualified employer-sponsored insurance, either directly or through another individual, to participate in the HIPP Program, unless the insurance is determined to not be “cost-effective” (Sec. 2).

• Establishes the following programs to provide medical assistance to a newly eligible individual, the individual’s spouse, and the individual’s dependents, if the individual does not qualify for the HIPP program (Sec. 2):
• The Voluntary Bridge to Marketplace Premium Assistance Program, until March 31, 2015; and
• The Marketplace Premium Assistance Program, until December 31, 2016.

• Prohibits a newly eligible individual from coverage through a medical assistance program until the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services receive and approve a Medicaid Section 1115 Demonstration Waiver from the commissioner (Secs. 2-5).

• Specifies that the costs of medical assistance provided by the HIPP Program, the Voluntary Bridge to Marketplace Premium Assistance Program, and the Marketplace Premium Assistance Program will be paid for by federal funds (Sec. 2).

• Requires the provisions of this bill to be immediately repealed if the federal match rate for medical assistance programs for newly eligible individuals is less than 100 percent at any time between July 1, 2014 and December 31, 2016 (Sec. 10).

Full Bill Text