Concord, NH- House Republican Leader Dick Hinch (R-Merrimack) released the following statement after Governor Chris Sununu vetoed HB250, establishing a dental benefit under the state Medicaid program.
“The COVID-19 crisis has impacted the lives of all granite staters and has given state government a lot of uncertainty regarding our fiscal picture. The latest revenue report shows us at 5.5% below plan. HB250 did not have an actuarial analysis or a simple fiscal note. Frankly, we don’t know exactly how much it’ll cost,” said Hinch. “Why would we agree to pay for something before we know how much it costs or if we can afford it? Our neighbors in Massachusetts have had difficulty paying for their own dental medicaid benefit. In the last 18 years, they’ve had to cut, then reestablish it twice already.”
“As part of the agreement on Medicaid Expansion made in 2018, if the New Hampshire Health Protection Trust Fund is not solvent, the program will be terminated. The funds to pay for this will come from that fund, and we don’t know exactly how much stress will be put on it. In these already uncertain times, Republicans will not allow Democrats to dig our fiscal hole any deeper. While in the majority, Democrats have grossly mismanaged our state finances every step of the way. Our fellow New Hampshire taxpayers deserve better. We will sustain the Governor’s veto on this bill.”