In an address to New Hampshire's Joint Finance Committee, Gov. Maggie Hassan (D) proposed the restoration of higher Medicaid payments to state hospitals to make "more funding available for uncompensated care."
Gov. Hassan said the state needs to "re-examine the massive tax increase imposed by the last budget on New Hampshire's hospitals," according to a release.
Last year, many New Hampshire hospitals paid more under the state's "Medicaid enhancement tax," which is a 5.5 percent tax on net patient revenue, or a provider fee. MET funds are normally returned to state hospitals that serve high proportions of poor and indigent patients, but New Hampshire cut those reimbursements in its latest state budget, prompting 10 hospitals to sue the state.
In a statement, New Hampshire Hospital Association President Steve Ahnen said the NHHA looks "forward to working with Gov. Hassan and legislative leaders in both the House and Senate over the coming months to find innovative solutions to this complex, challenging and very real problem."
Also in her address, Gov. Hassan confirmed New Hampshire would expand its Medicaid program under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Gov. Hassan said the state needs to "re-examine the massive tax increase imposed by the last budget on New Hampshire's hospitals," according to a release.
Last year, many New Hampshire hospitals paid more under the state's "Medicaid enhancement tax," which is a 5.5 percent tax on net patient revenue, or a provider fee. MET funds are normally returned to state hospitals that serve high proportions of poor and indigent patients, but New Hampshire cut those reimbursements in its latest state budget, prompting 10 hospitals to sue the state.
In a statement, New Hampshire Hospital Association President Steve Ahnen said the NHHA looks "forward to working with Gov. Hassan and legislative leaders in both the House and Senate over the coming months to find innovative solutions to this complex, challenging and very real problem."
Also in her address, Gov. Hassan confirmed New Hampshire would expand its Medicaid program under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
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