N.H. State Senators agree to bipartisan Medicaid expansion compromise

The plan will require three federal waivers, would sunset after three years without continued 100 percent federal contributions and would use private insurance to reach the additional low-income New Hampshire residents. It's similar to the Iowa and Arkansas approaches.

New Hampshire Union Leader: State Senate Leaders Announce Bipartisan Medicaid Expansion Deal
A bipartisan group of Senate leaders announced a compromise agreement that would bring expanded health insurance coverage to about 50,000 of Granite Staters below 138 percent of the federal poverty level using 100 percent federal funding for the next three years. Senate President Chuck Morse, R-Salem, disclosing the framework of the new bill Thursday to a Senate committee with Senate Democratic Leader Sylvia Larsen of Concord, said the plan will require three federal waivers, would sunset after three years without continued 100 percent federal contributions and would use private insurance to reach the additional low-income Granite Staters (2/6).

New Hampshire Public Radio: New Hampshire Lawmakers Agree To Expand Medicaid
News of a deal on Medicaid expansion emerged just before Governor Maggie Hassan took to the microphone on Thursday to deliver her first State of the State address in Concord. The first-term Democrat relished in bringing one of her biggest priorities closer to fruition. "With today's positive step forward, it is clear that we can work through this together, and help working people access critical health coverage," says Hassan (Bookman, 2/6).

The Associated Press: Senate Aisle Is Crossed On Medicaid Expansion Plan
State Senate leaders announced a bipartisan deal Thursday to expand Medicaid to an estimated 49,000 poor New Hampshire adults by using federal funds to pay for private insurance. Senate President Chuck Morse, a Salem Republican, and Senate Democratic Leader Sylvia Larsen of Concord announced the agreement in a presentation before the chamber's Rules Committee. The committee voted unanimously to allow their bill's introduction (Love, 2/7).

The New York Times: New Hampshire: Deal Reached On Medicaid Expansion
State senators said Thursday that they had reached a bipartisan deal on a framework to expand Medicaid to about 50,000 low-income adults. Under the agreement, the state will use federal money to buy private insurance, similar to a method adopted last year in Iowa and Arkansas (Bidgood, 2/6).

Politico Pro: New Hampshire Medicaid Plan Could Expand Insurer Role
New Hampshire lawmakers hope that a bipartisan deal to expand Medicaid, announced Thursday by legislative leaders, does more than just cover 50,000 people. They're also hoping it's a giant welcome mat for the insurance industry to expand its footprint in the state. New Hampshire's insurance market is one of the less competitive in the country. Its Obamacare insurance exchange features just one player, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. State House sources said the expansion deal, which has the support of Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan, could lure new carriers into the state (Cheney, 2/6).

CQ HealthBeat: Tentative Deal In New Hampshire Reached To Expand Medicaid
State lawmakers in New Hampshire reached a tentative bipartisan deal on Thursday to expand Medicaid to about 49,000 New Hampshire adults. Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan supported the compromise worked out between her state's Senate Democrats and Senate Republicans. Republicans had initially resisted Hassan's calls to broaden the program (Adams, 2/6).