The Fiscal Committee has wrapped up what is likely their last meeting of the biennium.
Legislative Budget Assistant Michael Buckley submitted his resignation after ten years as the Legislature's top number cruncher. Fiscal Chairwoman Marjorie Smith (D-Durham) said that with Buckley, the House, Senate, and their committees were "served in the most exemplary way." The next Fiscal Committee will name Buckley's replacement after it is organized in January.
Two Fiscal members also said goodbye as Representatives Ken Weyler (R-Kingston) and Peter Franklin (D-Newport) were not re-elected. Senator Lou D'Allesandro (D-Manchester) and Representative Neil Kurk (R-Weare) spoke on behalf of their departing colleagues.
I asked Rep. Smith about the fiscal challenges facing the next Legislature, compared to the budgets she has seen over the past 12 years.
"Anyone who knows anything about the state budget and its history expects the next biennium to be the worst we've ever seen. It continues to be my hope and certainly my intention to have everybody at the table to do the best that we can for the citizens of this state," Smith said. "This is too important to use the state budget for the purpose of gotcha politics."
Showing posts with label Neil Kurk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Neil Kurk. Show all posts
Friday, November 21, 2008
Medicare Outpatient Rates Cut
The Fiscal Committee this morning unanimously approved a significant cut to reimbursement rates to non-critical access hospitals. The State had been reimbursing 81.24% of allowable expenses for outpatient services, which was estimated to cost $69.4 million.
An increase both in hospital costs and increased caseloads pushed that cost to $95 million. In order to cut back the $25.6 million excess, DHHS Commissioner Nicholas Toumpas and Medicaid Director Katie Dunn requested that the reimbursement rate be cut to 54.04%. Representative Neil Kurk (R-Weare) explained that hospitals would either make up the difference out of their bottom line, or pass along the costs to insuruers. Many hospitals in the northern part of the state are classified as critical access hospitals, and will not be affected. Most hospitals in New Hampshire's southern tier are subject to the lower rate.
Senator Molly Kelly (D-Keene) led the questioning prior to the vote, expressing concern about how the rate cut would hit hospitals.
"I had concerns about the burden this would place on hospitals. Hospitals in my part of the state, which is in the souther tier; this will affect them," Kelly said after the hearing. "In my discussions with the (Lynch) Administration, they are committed to meeting the needs of people in this state. These are difficult times nationally. New Hampshire is not alone."
An increase both in hospital costs and increased caseloads pushed that cost to $95 million. In order to cut back the $25.6 million excess, DHHS Commissioner Nicholas Toumpas and Medicaid Director Katie Dunn requested that the reimbursement rate be cut to 54.04%. Representative Neil Kurk (R-Weare) explained that hospitals would either make up the difference out of their bottom line, or pass along the costs to insuruers. Many hospitals in the northern part of the state are classified as critical access hospitals, and will not be affected. Most hospitals in New Hampshire's southern tier are subject to the lower rate.
Senator Molly Kelly (D-Keene) led the questioning prior to the vote, expressing concern about how the rate cut would hit hospitals.
"I had concerns about the burden this would place on hospitals. Hospitals in my part of the state, which is in the souther tier; this will affect them," Kelly said after the hearing. "In my discussions with the (Lynch) Administration, they are committed to meeting the needs of people in this state. These are difficult times nationally. New Hampshire is not alone."
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