Committee Summary for House Finance Division III (02/03/2025)

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
Unclear 00:01:21.400 - 12:00:22 PM	General Working Session	Unclear

Unclear: Chairperson Information Only00:01:21.400 - 12:00:22 PM; The chairperson opened the hearing on Division 3 Finance, focusing on Medicaid and Medicare choices for Independence Nursing Facility financing. The discussion of nursing facility financing was postponed to a later date, and the meeting would focus on Medicaid, emphasizing its importance and educational value for new members. The chairperson also apologized for the lack of formal attire due to unforeseen circumstances.
Unclear: Ann Landry, Commissioner, Department of Health and Human Services Information Only00:02:44.040 - 12:01:45 PM; Ann Landry, along with colleagues Jonathan Ballard, Chief Medical Officer, and Henry Litman, Medicaid Director, provided an overview of the Medicaid program. They discussed the differences between Medicaid and Medicare, Medicaid's eligibility categories, enrollment numbers, and covered services in New Hampshire. Landry highlighted that Medicaid is a federal-state partnership, with each state having its own variations in coverage and eligibility.
Unclear: Henry Litman, State Medicaid Director Information Only00:07:13.080 - 12:06:14 PM; Henry Litman elaborated on Medicaid's structure and its significance in New Hampshire. He detailed the state's Medicaid program size, comparing it to national statistics, and discussed the demographics and income levels affecting Medicaid enrollment. Litman responded to questions about the reasons for New Hampshire's lower Medicaid numbers, attributing it to higher per capita income and an older population. He also addressed queries about covered conditions, income limits, and employment status of Medicaid recipients.
Unclear: Jonathan Ballard, Chief Medical Officer Information Only01:58:03.400 - 1:57:04 PM; Jonathan Ballard discussed the financial aspects and control mechanisms within the Medicaid program. He focused on the significant increase in pharmaceutical spending, which now constitutes 31% of Medicaid's total medical spend. Ballard explained the implementation of a common formulary and the comprehensive medication review process to manage pharmaceutical costs effectively. He also discussed new high-cost medications and the state's strategy to handle them through Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) and a high-risk pool.
Unclear: Representative Mooney Information Only00:08:01.440 - 12:07:02 PM; Representative Mooney inquired about the list of conditions covered by Medicaid, including psychological conditions. He was informed that all medical conditions, both physical and psychological, are covered if deemed medically necessary.
Unclear: Representative Stringham Information Only00:13:17.560 - 12:12:18 PM; Representative Stringham asked about the optional eligibility groups and the financial matching rates for those groups. He was informed that New Hampshire offers all optional eligibility groups, with varying federal matching rates depending on the category.
Unclear: Representative Toriki Information Only00:32:15.880 - 12:31:16 PM; Representative Toriki sought clarification on household size and income calculations for Medicaid eligibility. He was explained that household size includes all members, but only adult income is considered for eligibility calculations.
Unclear: Representative Daniels Information Only00:29:59.919 - 12:29:00 PM; Representative Daniels asked about Medicaid coverage for pregnant women, regardless of marital status, and the household income considerations. He was informed that marital status is not a criterion, but household income, including all members, is considered.
Unclear: Representative Edwards Information Only00:21:35.400 - 12:20:36 PM; Representative Edwards asked about the impact of extending postpartum care to 12 months and the associated costs. He was provided with statistics showing a high percentage of postpartum deaths among Medicaid-covered individuals due to substance use disorder and suicide, highlighting the benefit's importance.
Unclear: Carolyn Virtue, Granite Case Management Information Only02:27:15.760 - 2:26:16 PM; Carolyn Virtue clarified that the Medicaid waivers were never part of the MCOs, so any discussion about adding them would not be about bringing them back but adding them for the first time. She emphasized the need for thorough vetting of any such plans.