Mtng: NH CARES
Date: June 14th, 2013
Time: 8:45am to 10:15am
Place: Granite State Independent Living
21 Chenell Drive
Concord, NH 03301
(603) 228-9680

Agenda/Topics for Discussion:
•8:45–9:15 — Networking & Gossip
•9:15–9:20 — Introductions
•9:20–9:50 — Discussion of status of HB1 and HB2, Committee of Conference, CARES next steps.
•9:50–10:10 — Discussion of Committees of Conference on Legislation of interest to CARES, Medicaid Expansion, & Medicaid Managed Care items
•10:10–10:15 — Announcements of Interest

Please plan to attend!

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Both chambers of the Legislature, the Governor and the political parties have issued press releases making various accusations about the budget differences. Based on Legislative Budget Office information, the Senate budget “spends less than the House” in “total funds” (i.e. funds from all sources: State, Federal, County and others such as fees.) However, in terms of General Fund or state spending, the Senate actually spends more than the House.

The Senate budget no longer includes additional gambling revenue since the House killed the Senate’s casino bill. The Senate removed four tax/fee increases from the House proposed budget. There were two fee increases, one to the Salt Water Fishing License and one to the Marriage License. Both were deleted. In addition, the committee removed tobacco and gasoline tax increases. The Senate did predict that the State of NH will bring in over $100 million in additional revenue from existing fees and taxes based on economic growth. This growth in revenue allowed for increased spending.

When looking at the Department of Health and Human Services the Senate spends nearly $24 million more than the House. However, the Commissioner has said that because of low budget estimates for caseloads and other “back of the budget cuts” made by the Senate, the DHHS budget still has a $40 million deficit. The Commissioner told the committee that the following programs are at risk with the Senate’s version of the budget: DD/ABD waitlists, CHINS, mental health, community health centers, family planning clinics and payments to counties. Surely this will all be debated when both houses of the legislature meet in Conference Committee in June.

Here’s what’s ahead for the State Budget:

•On Thursday, June 6, the Senate Finance Committee’s recommendation on HB 1 and 2 will go to the floor of the Senate for a vote by the full chamber.

•By Thursday, June 13, a Committee of Conference (C of C) on HB 1 and 2 will be appointed by the House Speaker and Senate President.

•No later than noon on Thursday, June 20, the C of C will vote on / report out and sign off on its HB 1 and 2 recommendations to the full House and Senate.

•By Thursday, June 27, the full House and Senate will vote on the C of C’s recommendation.

Complete State Budget documents can be found here:

http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/LBA/Budget/fy2014_2015_budget.aspx

SB87 – Prime Sponsor – Peggy Gilmour – Bill clarifies that general patients’ bill of rights doesn’t apply to home health care. Specific home health care version applies. Bill also allows Homecare agencies to discharge a client with little and in some cases notice.

House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee
Public Hearing: 4/16/2013 1:00 PM LOB 205
Executive Session: 4/23/2013 10:00 AM LOB 205

SB138 – Prime Sponsor – Jeanie Forrester – This bill allows an assisted living facility or nursing home facility in certain circumstances to pursue recovery of costs of care rendered to a client from entities or certain other persons.

House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee
Public Hearing: 4/16/2013 2:00 PM LOB 205
Executive Session: 4/30/2013 10:00 AM LOB 205

SB152 – Prime Sponsor – Lou D’Allesandro – Allows video lottery machines and table games at one gaming location in the state pursuant to a competitive application process.

Joint House Committee of Finance and Ways and Means
Public Hearing: 4/16/2013 10:15 AM Representatives Hall
Bill Walk Through and Presentations: 4/17/2013 9:30 AM LOB 210-211

SB100 – Prime Sponsor – Jeb Bradley – Deletes the requirement that an employer who pays wages by electronic fund transfer offer employees the option of being paid by check. Also permits an employer to pay wages with a payroll card after offering employees the option of being paid by direct deposit.

House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services Committee
Public Hearing: 4/23/2013 11:00 AM LOB 307
Executive Session: 4/24/2013 1:00 PM LOB 303

SB24 – Prime Sponsor – John Reagan – This bill repeals the law requiring the department of health and human services to review and report relative to Medicaid reimbursement rates.

House Executive Departments and Administration Committee
Public Hearing: 4/17/2013 2:00 PM LOB 205

SB193 – Prime Sponsor – Peggy Gilmour – This bill authorizes licensure of dental therapists who may perform dental services under the supervision of a currently licensed dentist.

Re-referred to Senate Health, Education & Human Services Committee

Click the following links for materials from this NH CARES meeting:

Medicaid Care Management Panel / Update on Medicaid Care Management

BIA Stakeholder Meetings

NHFPI Handouts for NH CARES 3.29.13

The NHFPI Resource Page now features both parts of the Lewin Group report, their own analysis, basic facts about Medicaid and other materials. They also provide links to other organizations involved in the debate.

Bookmark their Medicaid resource page and you will have easy access to information about Medicaid and the ongoing discussion about extending Medicaid in New Hampshire.

ITEP, a non-profit, non-partisan research organization, released today the fourth edition of its report “Who Pays? A Distributional Analysis of Tax Systems in All 50 States.”

New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute has created a two-page summary of the findings specific to New Hampshire.