Tagged: Executive Council

[View the story "N.H. Executive Council Passes $2.3 Billion Medicaid Contract" on Storify]N.H. Executive Council Passes $2.3 Billion Medicaid Contract

Storified by · Wed, May 09 2012 12:48:16

RT @FostersDailyDem: BREAKING NEWS: N.H. Executive Council OKs $2.3 billion Medicaid contract http://bit.ly/JxiCxxNHPR NewsNH Executive Council OKs $2.3 billion Medicaid contractBy JIM HADDADIN CONCORD – On a split vote, members of New Hampshire's Executive Council approved a $2.3 billion contract establishing...Managed Medicaid could significantly shake up service for some 140,000 NH residents. HHS officials believe this reform is critical.Dan GorensteinExecutive Councilors are talking about how they will vote on managed medicaid contract.Dan GorensteinDozens of managed Medicaid opponents are in Executive Council chambers. Many are opposed to how plan would change services for the disabled.Dan GorensteinExecutive Council meeting getting under way. Councilors expect to vote on $2.3 B managed Medicaid contract. Insiders say contract will pass.Dan Gorenstein

State and Managed Care company officials met today with the executive council to discuss the contract that would change the state’s Medicaid Program. The councilors have serious concerns, and many questions.

The $2.2 billion dollar proposed contract is the biggest in the history of the state. Supporters say Managed Medicaid would streamline services for the some 130,000 people in the program. Health-care providers worry the new contract may hurt their patients and their business.

Executive Councilors, like Chris Sununu, are equally concerned.

The Executive Council refused to give New Hampshire Consumer Advocate Meredith Hatfield another term.

Some on the all Republican council feel she’s been too political in her opinions.

The Executive Council voted three to two against re-appointing Meredith Hatfield to represent the interest of consumers against the state’s public utilities.

Councilor Chris Sununu, of Newfields, says he was concerned about her stance on the Laidlaw Biomass Plant in Berlin as well as some of her opinions on the PSNH power plant in Bow.

Sununu says it’s time for someone else to be consumer advocate.