HAMPSTEAD, N.H. —
New Hampshire lawmakers and state officials are working on the transition to a new work requirement in the state's Medicaid program.
The new requirements are set to take effect in 2027.
"If a person cannot quite do it because of these real reasons, we want to be compassionate towards that person," said state Rep. Mark Pearson, R-Hampstead.
The Health and Human Services Oversight Committee heard from state officials Friday about efforts to make the transition without mistakenly kicking people off their health care coverage.
"In practice, we were hoping to use things like quarterly data from employment security, data that's available to us on people's work activities," said Olivia May, deputy Medicaid director for the state Department of Health and Human Services.
DHHS said it does not anticipate needing any new employees to manage the program.
Some lawmakers remain concerned that qualified Medicaid recipients will not be able to meet reporting requirements for exemptions.
"It's incredibly onerous for the people who are undergoing the determinations," said state Rep. Lucy Weber, D-Walpole. "For some, it's easier. I mean, if you just have the records from employment security, that's relatively easy. But for some people, documentation becomes a real hurdle even when they are very appropriately qualified."
Exceptions to the work requirement approved by the committee Friday include a hardship exemption for patients who must travel outside their community for...
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