On the first day of the 2014 legislative session in Concord, New Hampshire’s House of Representatives passed House Bill 544 with an amendment that establishes the expansion of access to health care for 58,000 low income working men and women across the state.
Speaker Terie Norelli (D) released the following statement on the passage of HB 544: “We took this action after extended deliberation over the past year including four public hearings, a thorough commission report, two affirmative votes of the House and in recognition of the urgency for our citizens and state. We welcome the State Senate to take this opportunity to continue the discussion and negotiations that promptly achieve passage of a workable plan to expand Medicaid eligibility.”
Prior to the measure’s passage, Speaker Norelli took to the Op/Ed sections of newspapers to explain “Amending a retained bill is the fastest method of providing the State Senate with an opportunity to act on Medicaid Expansion. This would enable the state to come to swift resolution and promptly begin realizing more than $500,000 per day in Federal funds. This program will deliver health care access to 58,000 hard working men and women and create 5,000 jobs in our communities.”
The New Hampshire House held four separate public hearings on Medicaid Expansion and passed Medicaid Expansion twice, including action during the December 2013 Special Session. To see if your state has or is taking action on Medicaid Expansion, visit the HIMSS State HIT Dashboard to follow legislation across all 50 states.
