Sununu leads GOP governments calling for end to COVID emergency [The New Hampshire Union Leader, Manchester] – InsuranceNewsNet

Dec. 20—CONCORD—Gov. Chris Sununu led a group of 25 Republican governors who on Monday urged the president Joe Biden to end the public health emergency related to COVID-19.

Sununu said keeping the emergency in place is costing state taxpayers “hundreds of millions of dollars” to support Medicaid medical coverage for families, including many who may no longer need it. .

The public health emergency “adversely affects states, primarily by artificially increasing our Medicaid-covered population (traditional and expanded populations), which individuals continue to be eligible for the program,” Sununu and the other governors wrote in their letter. .

The current public health emergency expires January 11but Sununu said state governors were assuming Biden would grant another 90-day extension, which would take it to April.

Medicaid is the federal state health insurance program for low-income families, people with disabilities, and seniors. The state shares the cost of coverage with the federal government.

When COVID-19 hit, registrations surged as the state’s unemployment rate rose from 2.5% to 17% within months.

Over an 18-month period through 2021, Medicaid listings grew by nearly 43,000, a 25% increase.

Sununu said nationally, Medicaid rolls have increased by 20 million, or about 30%, since the pandemic began.

In response, Congress approved in its first COVID relief bill a bonus payment of 6.2% of federal grants under Medicaid to help states deal with surging enrollments.

Until the end of 2021, from New Hampshire part of the bonus was $350 million.

$10M one month for NH

Sununu said he believes up to 30,000 Medicaid recipients may not need it and would be better served by other programs, such as the federally run Obamacare health insurance program, which offers lower premiums.

The state has hired a contractor to help the Department of Health and Social Services reach out to those on Medicaid and determine how many would not need coverage once the federal COVID emergency is over.

Outgoing HHS Commissioner Lori Shibinette informed on executive counsel last week, the agency confirmed that 29,000 people still on Medicaid are not eligible to remain in the program once the COVID emergency is over.

Another 35,000 have not complied with the state’s request to verify that their current income still qualifies them, Shibinette said in a request to amend the state’s existing Medicaid managed care contracts with three providers.

The cost of maintaining 30,000 ineligible customers on the lists is approximately $10.5 million a month.

“To make matters worse, we know that a considerable number of people have reverted to employer-sponsored coverage or are receiving coverage through the individual market, and yet states still have to account for and pay for their Medicaid enrollment in our non-federal part,” Sununu wrote.

“It’s costing states hundreds of millions of dollars.”

In the letter, Sununu noted that Biden had at one point said “the pandemic is over,” a statement administration officials said soon after did not represent a change in policy.

At November 15the US Senate voted 61-37 in favor of a resolution calling for an end to the national emergency.

According to the roll-call vote, New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen was one of 12 Senate Democrats who voted with all present Senate Republicans in support of the resolution. Sen. Maggie HassanD-NHopposed it.

“Governors maintain that although the virus still exists, the country is no longer in a medical emergency,” Sununu wrote.

The three Republican governors who did not sign Sununu’s letter were Phil Scott of Vermont, larry hogan of Maryland and Jim Justice of West Virginia.

Hogan is actively exploring a 2024 presidential race.

Justice is governor of one of the poorest states in the country, which receives far more federal support for Medicaid than New Hampshire.

Zandra Rice Hawkins of Granite State Progress said expanding Medicaid eligibility during the pandemic was a lifeline and that state policymakers must ensure those who have left the program find an affordable alternative.

The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates that ending the COVID emergency could keep 5 to 14 million Americans away from Medicaid, she said.

“People cannot afford to be without coverage, whether or not there is a pandemic. Access to quality, affordable coverage through Medicaid is the cornerstone of good health and economic security. for millions of people and a significant number of New Hampshire families,” Rice Hawkins said in a statement.

“Medicaid’s expansion in the pandemic era has shown how reducing administrative bureaucracy can help people stay covered, and it’s a lesson worth pursuing in the future to reduce the rate. churn and gaps in coverage.”

Rebuild NH praised the letter, while noting that it criticized many of the same measures taken by Sununu in response to the pandemic, including business closures and months of distance learning in schools. public.

“Interesting. We at RebuildNH certainly agree, but would like to add that we were the first to call for an end to the NH COVID emergency because we do not believe in an indefinite suspension of a constitutional form of government,” the group said in a statement.

The New Hampshire Democratic Party did not respond to a request for comment.

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