NH on Verge of Medicaid Expansion

New Hampshire is on the verge of Medicaid expansion. It's a move that was nearly scuttled last year as some Republicans in the state Senate questioned the wisdom of relying on the federal government for waivers and promised funding, under the Affordable Care Act.

The New Hampshire House of Representatives voted 202 to 132 on March 25 to send the bill to Gov. Maggie Hassan, D-Exeter, who intends to sign it into law.

Hassan said the bipartisan agreement will provide care to more than 50,000 residents. It is a wise move, both in the short- and long-term, she said.

"By expanding access to health insurance, we will help reduce uncompensated care and cost-shifting on New Hampshire businesses, encourage cost-saving primary and preventive care, and provide substance abuse and mental health treatment to thousands while injecting $2.5 billion in federal funds into our state’s economy," Hassan said after the vote.

It was a tumultuous year for efforts to expand Medicaid. It was included in the House budget, before being chewed up and spit out in the budget process. A special commission was formed to study it, and the agreement came forth in a special session late last year.

Opponents did not go down without a fight. House Minority Leader Gene Chandler, R-Bartlett, took to the floor to back one of several amendments that ultimately failed. "This could be one of the largest expenses in state history," Chandler said. 

Matthew Murphy, executive director of the conservative Citizens for a Strong New Hampshire, called the vote a disappointment.

"Today's vote expanded government, tied our state further to the reckless spending we already see in Washington, and finally succeeded in bringing the tentacles of a failing Obamacare into the Granite State," Murphy said in a statement. "The House's actions today, and the Senate's vote last month, will diminish the quality of healthcare we currently have and sets us on the path towards a sales tax, income tax, or both, to fund the expansion of a program that is already the largest expenditure in the state. It is a shame that our representatives in Concord were so shortsighted that they failed to recognize the terrible impact Obamacare's Medicaid expansion will cause our state in the years to come."