On Wednesday, April 25 the Senate Finance Committee voted 7-0 to spend $1.5 million dollars to help families on the developmental disabilities waiting list.This state spending would be federally matched under the “DD Waiver” for a total of $3 million. The bill (with amendments) now goes to the full Senate on May 2nd. If passed HB 1652 will go back to the House, where members will vote on the Senate's changes.

Updates on this and other issues available in our Advocacy section.

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On Wednesday, April 18 the NH Executive Council once again voted to table a decision on the Medicaid Managed Care contract until its next meeting on Wednesday, May 9. This makes it highly likely that implementaiton of Step 1 (acute care) won't happen until at least January 1, 2013. Details and dtiming on Step 2 (long term care and DD) are still uncertain. Go to the MDS Advocacy page to read most recent articles and updates.

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Contributed by Linda Quintanilha
Thanks in large part to the efforts of local ABLE NH members and Peterborough state representatives, the bipartisan effort to get $1.5 million back in the DD system for the Wait List passed as a floor amendment in the N.H. House on March 29th. Click here to read an article in the March 30th Keene Sentinel about this.

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Shelley Viles and Beth Provost, both of Keene, have recently joined the MDS Board of Directors. At its annual meeting, the Board re-elected James Craiglow to serve as President, James Schofield as Vice-President, Michael Forrest as Treasurer and Donald Hayes as Secretary. Other MDS Board members who continue to serve in 2012 are Terry Manahan, Judith Reed, Sand Seligman, and Manfredo Torelli.

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Are you looking for a summer camp for your child or children? The 2012 edition of the MDS Regional Camp Guide is now available online.
Click here to access the Guide which is available as a downloadable pdf.

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Commission Nick Toumpas has written a letter responding to families' concerns about Medicaid Managed Care. Click here to read the letter.

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A Keene Sentinel editorial from Sunday, February 19, 2012: "A Shift To Managed Care Has Some Medicaid Beneficiaries Worried." Click here to read the editorial.
From the Monday, February 13, 2012 Keene Sentinel, an article on Managed Care: "Medicaid Overhaul Leaves Questions."  Click here to read the article.

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The Concord Monitor continues coverage of the Managed Care issue with a February 14th article by Commissioner Nick Toumpas: "Managed Care Will Help Lower Medicaid Costs: Our Goal Isn't Less Access to Care." Click here to read that piece. The Monitor recently published its view that the Department of Health and Human Services should hold off making quick decisions on Medicaid Managed Care. The Sunday, February 5th edition ran an editorial entitled "Table Contracts to Manage Medicaid." You can read the editorial by clicking here. In that same edition, Betsy McNamara, mother of Samuel Habib (of Including Samuel) wrote a powerful "My Turn" piece from a mother's point of view:  "Parents Like Us Are Watching and Worrying." Click here to read that article. For more information on Medicaid Managed Care, visit our Advocacy page.

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Effective January 1, 2012, there has been a change in the rule for co-pay on medications. Individuals who are Dual Eligible (having both Medicare and Medicaid) and are on the Home and Community Based Care (HCBC) waiver, either Acquired Brain Disorder (ABD) or Developmental Disability (DD), are no longer required to pay a co-pay for their medications via their Part D plan. Some individuals are still being asked for co-pays because updates to records have been delayed, but it is expected this will be cleared up by the end of February.

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The Keene Sentinel's Monadnock Profile tells the story of Linda Quintanilha as a mom, a voice and an advocate for people with disabilities. Click here to read the article.

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For the fifth consecutive year, free tax help and preparation is available at the River Center in Peterborough, as part of their Money Matters program. This free service, aimed at helping people of moderate to low income file their taxes, is offered at the River Center office at 46 Concord Street. Call 603-924-6800 to schedule free tax preparation from an IRS certified tax preparer.

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As NH moves to switch to private Medicaid Managed Care, Connecticut has decided to stop using private insurers for its Medicaid health programs. As of January 2012, all of the state's Medicaid programs will be funneled into one system operated by a third-party administrator, with the state, rather than the insurers, will bear the risk of claims. This also brings the state back to a fee-for-service model rather than a flat fee per patient. Read articles from USA Today and the Hartford Courant to find out more about this switch. Click here to find out more about Medicaid Managed Care in NH in our Advocacy section.

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