As expected, the New Hampshire House today passed a private option version of Medicaid expansion similar to the plan enacted last year in Arkansas. The bill will now head to Gov. Maggie Hassan, who will sign it into law, extending coverage to 50,000 low-income residents. As in Arkansas, New Hampshire will use federal Medicaid funds to purchase private health insurance for eligible citizens. Iowa is also pursuing a version of the private option for some beneficiaries.
Several other states are considering a private option approach; it will be interesting to monitor whether the idea continues to spread to other states on the fence about Medicaid expansion.
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