Revision: May 5, 2022, 8:59 a.m.
Sen. Prentiss, Dist 5
Sen. Bradley, Dist 3
May 4, 2022
2022-1963s
05/04
Floor Amendment to HB 1099
Amend the title of the bill by replacing it with the following:
AN ACT relative to medical freedom in immunizations and relative to expanding Medicaid to include certain postpartum health care services and making an appropriation therefor.
Amend the bill by replacing all after section 1 with the following:
2 Title. Sections 2-4 of this act shall be known and may be cited as the "Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act of 2022".
3 New Paragraph; Medicaid Enhancement for Children and Pregnant Women. Amend RSA 167:68 by inserting after paragraph III the following new paragraph:
IV.(a) Pursuant to the state option under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to expand maternity care under Medicaid and section 1902(e)(16) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. section 1396a(e)), the commissioner of the department of health and human services shall submit, no later than August 15, 2022, a Medicaid state plan amendment to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to establish and implement 12 months of continuous coverage for the entire postpartum period. This benefit shall be available to anyone who received medical assistance under the state plan for all pregnancy-related and postpartum medical assistance available under the state plan.
(b) The purpose of the program shall be, through ensuring continuous coverage for a 12-month postpartum period, to increase identification and mitigation of preventable pregnancy related and pregnancy associated morbidity and mortality, including those related to substance use disorder and mental illness.
(c) The medical assistance provided for a pregnant or postpartum woman under this section shall, consistent with Section 1902(e)(16) include all items and services covered under the state plan that are not less in amount, duration, or scope, or are determined by the Secretary to be substantially equivalent, to the medical assistance available for an individual described in subsection (a)(10)(A)(i); and be provided for the individual while pregnant and during the 12-month period that begins on the last day of the individual’s pregnancy and ends on the last day of the month in which such 12-month period ends.
(d) On January 1, 2023, the commissioner shall begin submitting quarterly reports to the oversight committee on health and human services, the legislative committees with jurisdiction over health and human services, and the governor regarding the department's progress in obtaining and implementing the state plan amendment. The quarterly reports shall include the department's plans for reducing administrative burdens for enrollees and the department’s efforts to expand access and participation to voluntary, evidence-based maternal home visiting programs, pursuant to subparagraph (a). Reports submitted under this paragraph shall also be posted on the department's website.
(e) The department shall include in its biennial request for appropriations under RSA 9:4, not less than $200,000 for each fiscal year, for the purpose of providing the postpartum health care services required under this paragraph.
4 Appropriation. The sum of $200,000 for the biennium ending June 30, 2023 is hereby appropriated to the department of health and human services for the purpose of expanding postpartum health care services under the state Medicaid plan as provided in section 2 of this act. The governor shall determine if any discretionary funds appropriated in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Public Law 117-2, or any other federal funds, can be used for this purpose, and the commissioner shall expend such federal funds for this purpose. Any remainder shall be appropriated from the general fund. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for the general fund portion of such sum from any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
5 Prospective Repeal. RSA 167:68, IV, relative to Medicaid coverage of postpartum health care services for a 12-month period, is repealed.
I. Section 1 of this act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
II. Section 5 of this act shall take effect March 31, 2027.
III. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.
2022-1963s
AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill clarifies that no person shall be required to receive a Covid-19 vaccination in order receive benefits or services from the department of health and human services.
The bill also directs the department of health and human services to submit a state plan amendment to temporarily expand postpartum coverage under Medicaid, establishes a quarterly reporting requirement, and makes an appropriation to the department for this purpose. The program expansion is repealed March 31, 2027.