House Majority Leader Responds to Fiscal Committee Approval of Medicaid Expansion Work Requirement Waiver Application

CONCORD- House Majority Leader Richard Hinch (R-Merrimack) released the following statement in response to the Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee approving the application for a waiver on the work requirement for those participating in the expanded Medicaid program. The committee approved the waiver application by a voice vote.

“This provision protects taxpayers and provides an incentive for childless, able-bodied citizens to participate in the workforce if they are to be enrolled in the program. Our state needs workers, and this creates a pathway between program participants and our business community looking to fill jobs in this growing economy,” said Hinch.

“The budget bill that included the work requirement language passed with a bipartisan vote. It is the position of this legislature and the law of the state that we submit this waiver application, and we believe this is a reasonable personal responsibility measure.”

Background: HB517 (2017) included a provision for a work requirement for any person participating in the expanded Medicaid program in New Hampshire, and gave authority to the governor and the Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee to approve the application. If the waiver is not approved, the program will not been reauthorized beyond December 31, 2018. The criteria for the requirement are as follows:

Newly eligible adults who are unemployed shall be eligible to receive benefits under RSA 126-A:5 XXIV-XXV, if the commissioner finds that the individual is engaging in at least 20 hours per week upon application of benefits, 25 hours per week after receiving 12 months of benefits over the lifetime of the applicant and 30 hours per week after receiving 24 months of benefits over the lifetime of the applicant of one or a combination of the following activities:
(A)  Unsubsidized employment.
(B)  Subsidized private sector employment.
(C)  Subsidized public sector employment.
(D)  Work experience, including work associated with the refurbishing of publicly assisted housing, if sufficient private sector employment is not available.
(E)  On-the-job training.
(F)  Job search and job readiness assistance.
(G)  Vocational educational training not to exceed 12 months with respect to any individual.
(H)  Job skills training directly related to employment.
(I)  Education directly related to employment, in the case of a recipient who has not received a high school diploma or a certificate of high school equivalency.
(J)  Satisfactory attendance at secondary school or in a course of study leading to a certificate of general equivalence, in the case of a recipient who has not completed secondary school or received such a certificate.