2023 Priority Bills
Active Legislation:
May 22, 2023:
The House and Senate are scheduled to meet on Thursday, June 8, at 10 am. This is the deadline for committees to act on all bills, including the state budget.
On June 8, the House will take up the Senate amendments to HB 642 (BDS Legacy Budgets) and HB 238 (DS Quality Council).
State Budget Update
Last Monday, the Senate Finance Committee voted on the Medicaid rate increase.
The amendment includes the following:
- Removes a $15 million appropriation the House had allocated to DHHS in ’24 for critical needs. This means a reduction of the total Medicaid rate increase from $135 million (House) to about $120 million (Senate). Gov. Sununu’s budget provided $24 million for rate increases.
- The amendment also gives the DHHS the authority to make changes to the schedule of rate adjustments with certain conditions.
- As a reminder, the House included the $15 million for critical needs, $24 million in across-the-board 3% rate increases, except for hospitals and then had a list of 23 provider types with specific 24’ and 25” general fund appropriations.)
This is certainly not the final word on this critical issue. The budget process still has about one month left. There still could be changes in the Finance Committee itself, on the Senate floor, or in the Budget Committee of Conference.
HB238: relative to the role of quality control and the developmental disability service system. Representative Charlie McMahon is the prime sponsor.
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to seek out and receive input from the Developmental Quality Control Council. This bill will codify in law what is written in the current rule. Community Bridges is in favor of this bill.
- 03/15/2023 Update: OTP-A
The Health and Human Services and Elderly Affairs vote Ought to Pass with an Amendment, 18-2. The Majority Committee Report includes Amendment # 2023-0841h. The Minority Committee Report recommends Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2023-0909h
- 03/22/2023 Update:
Ought to Pass with Amendment 2023-0841h: MA DV 03/22/2023 362-13 HJ 10
- 04/05/2023:
On April 12 at 9:30 am in room 103 of the State House, the Senate Executive Departments and Administration committee will conduct its public hearing on HB 238, relative to the role of quality control and the developmental disability service system. This bill requires DHHS to seek out and receive input from the developmental quality control council. This bill will ensure that individuals, families, and service providers, through their participation in the Developmental Services Quality Council, are full participants in any future decisions about changes in service provision. We urge you to consider signing in support of this bill and/or attending the public hearing next week.
- 04/22/2023 Update: DS Quality Council Oversight Bill
This week the Senate Executive Departments and Administration committee discussed an attached amendment to HB 238 relative to the role of quality control and the developmental disability service system. The amendment leaves little, if anything, to improve the communication and efforts between DHHS and the Quality Council. While CSNI (the Association of Area Agencies) understands some of the department’s concerns with HB 238, we must use this vehicle to improve the council and make it more effective. CSNI let DHHS and the Senate Executive Departments and Administration committee know that amendment #2023-1370s is not acceptable to the area agencies. We are pleased that another amendment is currently being drafted.
HB642: relative to prohibiting the Department of Health and Human Services from enforcing salary caps for direct care workers. Representative Jerry Stringham is the prime sponsor.
This bill prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services from establishing or enforcing salary limits on direct support staff's salary or hourly wages. Community Bridges is in support of this bill.
- 03/15/2023 Update: On 03/14/2023, the Health and Human Services and Elderly Affairs (HHS&EA) committee voted 20-0 to endorse an amended HB 642. The bill is now called the wait list registry and budget flexibility for services for the developmentally disabled act of 2023. HB 642 will allow DHHS to move funds to older budgets. All reasonable requests by Area Agencies must be funded or placed on the waitlist registry. The first sentence of the bill, prohibiting salary caps, was deleted by the committee because DHHS had already ended the practice. The new law will be sunset in 2027. This will allow all the stakeholders to review the issues and submit any changes in a future legislative session.
- 03/22/2023 Update:
Ought to Pass with Amendment 2023-0940h: MA VV 03/22/2023 HJ 10
- 04/05/2023 Update:
The Senate Health and Human Services Committee conducted its public hearing on HB 642. As passed by the House, this bill will allow DHHS a new tool to move available dollars that will not be spent to budgets that are underfunded and, therefore, at risk of losing their service provider. At the hearing, the bill was universally supported by Area Agencies, The Disabilities Rights Center, and most importantly, families and individuals. DHHS opposed the bill. CSNI and the DRC are currently working with the department on an amendment that will be acceptable to all parties. Based on the questions of the Senate committee during the hearing, it seemed clear that they were very supportive of the goal and concept of HB 642.
- 04/22/2023 Update: Legacy Budget- Bill
The Department of Health and Human Services has come to an agreement with CSNI and other stakeholders on an amendment (see link) to HB 642: relative to the waitlist registry and budget flexibility for services for the developmentally disabled. The bill will be voted on in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on Wednesday, April 26th, at 10 am. The amendment removes the word “waitlist” and makes other technical changes. However, the main rationale behind the legislation will not change. View the proposed amendment.
SB86; relative to healthcare workforce development and making appropriations therefor.
This bill:
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I. Directs the Department of Health and Human Services to increase Medicaid provider rates and makes an appropriation for this purpose.
II. Establishes a community health worker certification program in the office of professional licensure and certification and makes an appropriation to the office for this purpose.
III. Directs the health and human services department to issue an RFP to expand access to health services in rural and underserved areas of the state and makes appropriations to the department for this purpose.
Community Bridges also supports this bill.
- 03/15/2023 Update: SB 86 Rate Increase Bill Moving Forward
Last week, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee unanimously approved a 3% Medicaid rate increase for all providers. This would be in addition to the governor's recommended 3% for a total of 6% each year. We will continue to advocate for this additional rate increase as the budget and SB 86 move through the legislative process.
- Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 03/30/2023; SC 15
Retained Legislation:
HB608: establishing a pilot program to support the Bureau of developmental services redesign. Representative Jess Edwards is the prime sponsor.
This bill will act as a buffer program with limited enrollment to test changes being made as part of the system redesign. This would include issues related to Conflict Free Case Management, Direct Billing, and potential changes to waiver programs. Community Bridges is in favor of this bill.
- 03/15/2023 Update: Retained
The Health Human and Services & Elderly Affairs committee has retained HB 608 (pilot redesign ideas) and HB 317 (two-tier waiver study). This means the bills will remain in committee until January. Following a robust discussion, the committee believes that the issues here are currently best settled without legislation. The department has committed very publicly that every critical component of the BDS redesign (except those required by CMS) will be piloted/tested and that further stakeholder input will be incorporated into the plans. The committee clarified that if that does not happen, these bills can be used to make changes next year.
HB317: establishing a commission to study transitioning to a 2-tier waiver system for individuals eligible for disability services. Representative Jerry Stringham is the prime sponsor.
The commission will explore the feasibility of transitioning from the current single waiver to a 2-tiered waiver system and other recommendations in the A&M report. . Community Bridges supports this bill.
- 03/15/2023 Update: Retained
The Health Human and Services & Elderly Affairs committee has retained HB 608 (pilot redesign ideas) and HB 317 (two-tier waiver study). This means the bills will remain in committee until January. Following a robust discussion, the committee believes that the issues here are currently best settled without legislation. The department has committed very publicly that every critical component of the BDS redesign (except those required by CMS) will be piloted/tested and that further stakeholder input will be incorporated into the plans. The committee clarified that if that does not happen, these bills can be used to make changes next year.
To attend in person, The Legislative Office Building is located at 33 N State St, Concord, NH 03301
If you are not speaking, what can you do?
The General Court also offers a streaming option to view hearing without participating. https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/ Scroll down to the Calendar and meeting schedule section on the home page.
