Morse, Bradley applaud bipartisan support for reauthorizing the New Hampshire Health Protection Plan

Concord, NH – Today, the Senate passed HB 1696, reauthorizing the New Hampshire Health Protection Plan for two years.

Senate President Chuck Morse (R-Salem) and Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro) issued statements following the vote.

“Passage of this important legislation ensures that our neediest families will continue to receive private health insurance for two more years, requires them to work, or train for work and does so in a way that protects taxpayers,” said Senate President Chuck Morse (R-Salem).

“The reauthorization of the New Hampshire Health Protection Plan not only provides 48,000 of our neediest citizens with private health insurance by leveraging federal dollars, it also protects New Hampshire taxpayers. It does so by maintaining a separate trust fund outside of the state’s budget, establishing a two year reauthorization requirement, and preventing the use of any new or increased taxes, fees and uses voluntary contributions rather than general funds”

“One of our original goals in drafting the program was to reduce the high cost of healthcare and the very real burden on ratepayers from those who receive health care and can’t pay for it – also known as uncompensated care. This hidden tax reached a level that surpassed the collection of business taxes. This program is clearly working since uncompensated care has been reduced by nearly $150 million in a short amount of time. This is critical to slowing the increase in rising health care costs for families and employers alike and I look forward to it becoming law,” said Morse.

“I am proud of the Senate’s bipartisan vote to reauthorize the New Hampshire Health Protection plan for two more years today. This legislation will continue coverage for the 48,000 New Hampshire citizens who have been accessing health insurance since the program began while also providing 40% of the funding for substance abuse treatment services statewide,” said Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley (R- Wolfeboro).

“I am particularly pleased that this bill includes enhances taxpayer protections by prohibiting any new taxes, fees or general funds from supporting this program. I also believe in helping people gain independence, not increase their dependence on government programs, which is why I support the work requirements in this bill. This legislation will advocate that single, able-bodied adults are working, volunteering or furthering their education in order to receive health insurance so that eventually, they can eventually become financially independent of the state.”

“We’ve seen this program meet our expectations by providing low-income individuals and families with private health insurance, while also reducing the cost of uncompensated care, putting a lid on rising health care costs for taxpayers. This program has also been the most effective provider of critical substance abuse benefits which more than 6,000 individuals have accessed in the middle of the heroin and opioid crisis facing New Hampshire,” said Bradley.

“This legislation will ensure that these priorities are maintained for the next two years, when we will again take a close look at the program to make sure that it is working as intended for New Hampshire.”

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