Politics and governing aren’t the same thing, but they are inevitably intertwined. As much as we would like otherwise, political considerations often drive policy decisions. Sometimes the repercussions are small. In the pending decision over Medicaid expansion, however, the stakes are huge and it would be a serious mistake for Republicans in the state Senate to make this a political decision.
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.png00Joshua Elliott-Traficantehttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngJoshua Elliott-Traficante2014-03-03 09:20:512018-08-28 06:05:15The Wrong Policy for NH at the Wrong Time
January saw 5,417 Granite Staters select an insurance policy on the federal exchange. Since open enrollment began in October a total of 16,863 have selected coverage. The Department of Health and Human Services with each successive monthly report continues to add more demographic data, giving a more detailed look at the insurance pool and what type of coverage they have purchased.
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.png00Joshua Elliott-Traficantehttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngJoshua Elliott-Traficante2014-02-24 15:19:492018-08-28 06:04:495,400 NH Obamacare Enrollments in January and an Updated Look at the Pool
The recently announced deal in the New Hampshire Senate of a “framework” to expand Medicaid is a bad deal for our state’s future. The fundamental problem is not just that the plan implements a key component of Obamacare here, but it continues to build on a profoundly flawed Medicaid program desperately in need of reform.
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.png00Joshua Elliott-Traficantehttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngJoshua Elliott-Traficante2014-02-21 10:02:212018-08-28 06:05:15Medicaid Expansion is Bad Medicine for New Hampshire
The Senate Medicaid Expansion Plan was released this week so we could all see the details and find out that the spin and the reality of the program are not quite the same.
Let’s start by dismissing the assertion that this program is somehow a unique New Hampshire approach. That just isn’t so. Iowa passed this same Medicaid expansion plan last May and a few states have had similar ideas in the interim. The New Hampshire version differs in slight ways, none of which make it better.
00Joshua Elliott-Traficantehttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngJoshua Elliott-Traficante2014-02-20 16:38:392018-08-28 06:05:15Senate Medicaid Expansion Plan Not Quite As Advertised
This week Republican Senate leadership announced a plan to significantly expand the state’s Medicaid program. While the deal was announced, the details are not yet available. Evaluating whether the deal involves any significant element of compromise or is just a slight variant of a dramatic expansion of the state’s Medicaid system depends on the details but early reports are not promising.
00Charles M. Arlinghaushttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngCharles M. Arlinghaus2014-02-13 12:05:552018-08-28 06:18:41The Medicaid Expansion Compromise That Isn’t
According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, a total of 11,446 New Hampshire residents have selected a health insurance plan through the Federal Exchange. This represents a net increase of 9,877 in the month of December.
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.png00Joshua Elliott-Traficantehttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngJoshua Elliott-Traficante2014-01-30 12:10:372014-01-30 12:10:37New Hampshire Obamacare Enrollments top 11,000 and a First Look at the Pool
The most sensational stories make the news but the most important work of the legislature is too boring for anyone much to care. The sensational stories will have little or no impact on New Hampshire. The boring stories have a long lasting but not sensational impact for years to come. That fundamental conflict is the long term struggle good public policy faces and it will be on display this year.
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.png00Charles M. Arlinghaushttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngCharles M. Arlinghaus2014-01-23 09:15:232018-08-28 18:42:35We Need To Insist on More Boring Stories
The governor would like to spend state revenues directly for scholarships to be used at any approved school, public or private in the state. At the same time, in the same term, she is arguing that legislation that does the same thing is an unconstitutional breach that must be stopped. Rarely has any leader been so directly and perfectly contradictory.
00Charles M. Arlinghaushttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngCharles M. Arlinghaus2014-01-17 15:33:202018-08-28 06:18:41What’s Noteworthy Here is the Governor’s Chutzpah
A few yars ago, Oregon chose to expand Medicaid coverage to the population now under consideration for coverage here in New Hampshire. In Oregon’s case, state funds would cover the total cost of the program. The problem for Oregon policy makers was that there was only enough money available to cover some, not all, of those eligible. To remain fair, coverage in the expanded Medicaid program was chosen by lottery.
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.png00Joshua Elliott-Traficantehttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngJoshua Elliott-Traficante2014-01-09 14:38:522018-08-28 06:05:15Medicaid Expansion Leads to Increased Inappropriate ER Usage Study Finds
A new legislative session begins today. Most of the big issues are predictable but some less noticed issues will decide whether New Hampshire adopts the spend-it-today-not- tomorrow management style that characterizes Washington. Politicians have managed to convince themselves that the state’s rainy day fund law is an unusual act of charity rather than sound fiscal policy.
00Charles M. Arlinghaushttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngCharles M. Arlinghaus2014-01-09 14:19:392018-08-28 18:42:51Demand That The Legislature Follow Its Own Budget Law
The Wrong Policy for NH at the Wrong Time
HEALTH CAREPolitics and governing aren’t the same thing, but they are inevitably intertwined. As much as we would like otherwise, political considerations often drive policy decisions. Sometimes the repercussions are small. In the pending decision over Medicaid expansion, however, the stakes are huge and it would be a serious mistake for Republicans in the state Senate to make this a political decision.
5,400 NH Obamacare Enrollments in January and an Updated Look at the Pool
HEALTH CAREJanuary saw 5,417 Granite Staters select an insurance policy on the federal exchange. Since open enrollment began in October a total of 16,863 have selected coverage. The Department of Health and Human Services with each successive monthly report continues to add more demographic data, giving a more detailed look at the insurance pool and what type of coverage they have purchased.
Medicaid Expansion is Bad Medicine for New Hampshire
HEALTH CAREThe recently announced deal in the New Hampshire Senate of a “framework” to expand Medicaid is a bad deal for our state’s future. The fundamental problem is not just that the plan implements a key component of Obamacare here, but it continues to build on a profoundly flawed Medicaid program desperately in need of reform.
Senate Medicaid Expansion Plan Not Quite As Advertised
HEALTH CAREThe Senate Medicaid Expansion Plan was released this week so we could all see the details and find out that the spin and the reality of the program are not quite the same.
Let’s start by dismissing the assertion that this program is somehow a unique New Hampshire approach. That just isn’t so. Iowa passed this same Medicaid expansion plan last May and a few states have had similar ideas in the interim. The New Hampshire version differs in slight ways, none of which make it better.
The Medicaid Expansion Compromise That Isn’t
HEALTH CAREThis week Republican Senate leadership announced a plan to significantly expand the state’s Medicaid program. While the deal was announced, the details are not yet available. Evaluating whether the deal involves any significant element of compromise or is just a slight variant of a dramatic expansion of the state’s Medicaid system depends on the details but early reports are not promising.
New Hampshire Obamacare Enrollments top 11,000 and a First Look at the Pool
HEALTH CAREAccording to the US Department of Health and Human Services, a total of 11,446 New Hampshire residents have selected a health insurance plan through the Federal Exchange. This represents a net increase of 9,877 in the month of December.
We Need To Insist on More Boring Stories
REGULATIONThe most sensational stories make the news but the most important work of the legislature is too boring for anyone much to care. The sensational stories will have little or no impact on New Hampshire. The boring stories have a long lasting but not sensational impact for years to come. That fundamental conflict is the long term struggle good public policy faces and it will be on display this year.
What’s Noteworthy Here is the Governor’s Chutzpah
EDUCATIONThe governor would like to spend state revenues directly for scholarships to be used at any approved school, public or private in the state. At the same time, in the same term, she is arguing that legislation that does the same thing is an unconstitutional breach that must be stopped. Rarely has any leader been so directly and perfectly contradictory.
Medicaid Expansion Leads to Increased Inappropriate ER Usage Study Finds
HEALTH CAREA few yars ago, Oregon chose to expand Medicaid coverage to the population now under consideration for coverage here in New Hampshire. In Oregon’s case, state funds would cover the total cost of the program. The problem for Oregon policy makers was that there was only enough money available to cover some, not all, of those eligible. To remain fair, coverage in the expanded Medicaid program was chosen by lottery.
Demand That The Legislature Follow Its Own Budget Law
BUDGETA new legislative session begins today. Most of the big issues are predictable but some less noticed issues will decide whether New Hampshire adopts the spend-it-today-not- tomorrow management style that characterizes Washington. Politicians have managed to convince themselves that the state’s rainy day fund law is an unusual act of charity rather than sound fiscal policy.