BIA supports Medicaid expansion for NH

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Adrienne Rupp
Business and Industry Association
Office: 603.224.5388 x114
Mobile: 603.731.7754
arupp@BIAofNH.com

BIA supports Medicaid expansion for NH

The BIA board of directors voted today to support expanding the state’s Medicaid program to 138 percent of federal poverty level.

CONCORD, N.H. – Nov. 12, 2013 – The board of directors of the Business and Industry Association – New Hampshire’s statewide chamber of commerce and leading business advocate – voted this morning to support expanding the state’s Medicaid program to 138 percent of the federal poverty level provided the following principles are observed.

1) It is better for economic prosperity when individuals and families are insured. The uninsured don’t receive appropriate healthcare services when and where they need them, which ultimately leads to a costlier healthcare system. Healthcare providers aren’t reimbursed for treating uninsured patients, which ultimately impacts the amount cost-shifted onto other payers, such as businesses and their employees.

2) Any proposal to expand the state’s Medicaid program should demonstrate it will not lead to additional cost-shifting to the business community and will lead to improved access, lower rates of the uninsured and better outcomes.

3) An expansion of the state’s Medicaid program should maximize use of the private health insurance market to the extent allowed under federal law and minimize the effect of crowd-out (the number of individuals currently insured through an employer who drop private coverage to choose Medicaid).

4) Should federal funding become unavailable or become available at an amount less than previously committed, lawmakers should reevaluate the feasibility of continuing with an expanded Medicaid program.

5) Any expansion of the state’s Medicaid program should not place additional financial burden on the business community, such as an increase in business tax rates.

“In choosing to support expanding the state’s Medicaid program, assuming the final legislation observes our guiding principles, the board recognized the connection between the health of a population and the state’s economic prosperity and that regular, preventive care costs less, will lead to less utilization of healthcare services and ultimately lower health insurance costs for businesses and individuals,” said BIA President Jim Roche. “The high cost of health insurance is one of the top concerns of business owners throughout New Hampshire and the primary driver of premium cost is consumption of health care.”

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About the BIA: The Business and Industry Association is New Hampshire’s statewide chamber of commerce and leading business advocate. The BIA represents more than 400 members in a variety of industries, including advanced manufacturing, high technology, professional services, financial services, health care, hospitality and tourism, public utilities, higher education and insurance. Member firms employ 86,000 people throughout the state and contribute $4.5 billion annually to the state’s economy. Through advocacy with state legislators and regulators, the BIA works to promote a healthy business climate and robust economic future for New Hampshire.

The BIA’s 2013 public policy priorities include: preserving the New Hampshire Advantage through  support of fiscally conservative state budgets with a business-friendly regulatory and tax structure; supporting business tax policies that foster economic growth; supporting infrastructure development; supporting efforts to increase the availability and affordability of housing for working people; supporting pro-business labor rules and regulations that consider the rights and responsibilities of workers and management; supporting efforts that enhance outcomes and reduce/slow the growth of total healthcare costs for employers and the state; supporting efforts to develop New Hampshire’s future workforce; working towards mitigating the long- and short-term costs of energy; supporting efforts to reform the state’s telecommunications regulations to ensure fairness and equal competition among all service providers; and supporting environmental policies, legislation and administrative rules that balance economic development with the long-term viability of the state’s natural resources through a collaborative process. For more information about the BIA, visit http://www.biaofnh.com/.