NH DHHS Releases Study on Medicaid Expansion under the ACA

Concord, NH - The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services

(DHHS) will be holding a public briefing on Friday, November 2, 2012 to

release the first of a two phase analysis of the State’s option to expand

its Medicaid program. Based on the US Supreme Court’s ruling on the

Affordable Care Act, states have the option of expanding Medicaid coverage

to individuals with incomes under 138-percent of the federal poverty level.



“I feel strongly it is the Department’s responsibility to be able to

provide the data and facts to those who will ultimately decide whether the

State should expand its Medicaid program,” said DHHS Commissioner Nicholas

Toumpas. “We asked and received support from legislators to allow us the

time to have an independent analysis conducted so that the pros and cons of

the expansion can be understood. We want to make sure this information is

available to the Legislature for their discussion in the upcoming 2013

Legislative session.”



DHHS worked with the Lewin Group, a national health policy and human

services consulting firm, to conduct the analysis. It provides information

on the number of residents who would be eligible for coverage under the

expansion and associated costs to the state. In order to get a full

understanding of the pros and cons of the expansion, the second phase of

the analysis, which is expected to be completed by the end of the year,

will address the impact on the state economy, state budget and the

commercial insurance market.



Lewin Group researchers will be at the briefing to explain their methods

and findings as well as to answer questions. The briefing will be held on

November 2nd at 10 a.m. at DHHS’ Brown Building located at 129 Pleasant

Street in Concord. The public is encouraged to attend.