MANCHESTER, NH – The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is seeking an amendment to its approved waiver from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to allow New Hampshire to include a work requirement as a condition of eligibility for the New Hampshire Health Protection Program (NHHPP).
⇒Two public hearings are scheduled, the first in Manchester on Sept. 14, and a second in Concord on Sept. 21. More details on the meetings below.
This waiver request is in accordance with House Bill 517 that went into effect on July 1st and would require that residents newly eligible for coverage and who are unemployed engage in at least 20 hours per week in employment or training activities.
The NHHPP provides health insurance coverage to adults 19-64 with incomes up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level, are not Medicare beneficiaries or enrolled in the state’s Health Insurance Premium Payment program. Unemployed, able-bodied newly eligible adults will be required to participate in employment or training activities for at least 20 hours per week upon application of benefits. After receiving benefits for 12 months, the requirement increases to 25 hours per week; and 30 hours per week after receiving benefits for 24 months.
The waiver amendment request is open for public comment until midnight, September 29, 2017.Comments may be submitted by email to NHPremiumAssistanceAmendment@dhhs.nh.gov, or by mail to Dawn Landry, NH Department of Health and Human Services, 129 Pleasant Street, Concord, NH 03301-3857.
In addition, DHHS will host two public meetings during the public comment period:
- September 14, 2017
1:00 – 2:30
Manchester Health Department
1528 Elm St
Manchester, NH 03010 - September 21, 2017
11:00 – 12:30
NH DHHS
Brown Auditorium
129 Pleasant St
Concord, NH 03301
The Premium Assistance Program supports individuals moving between Medicaid and commercial insurance coverage. Premium Assistance helps reduce coverage disruption due to changes in income, offer comparable provider access, enable higher provider payments for covered services in order to ensure access, encourage more cross-participation by plans in Medicaid and the commercial marketplace, and achieve cost reductions due to greater competition.
The NHHPP was established on March 27, 2014, and the Premium Assistance Program went into effect on January 1, 2016. On April 5, 2016, the NH Legislature reauthorized the NHHPP through December 31, 2018. As of August 1, 2017, the New Hampshire Health Protection Program provided coverage to 51,924 individuals, 41,392 of whom were enrolled in the Premium Assistance Program.
For more information about the waiver request and the NHHPP, please visit www.dhhs.nh.gov/pap-1115-waiver/.
