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Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ayotte, hospitals settle bitter suit over Medicaid tax scheme
The state and acute-care hospitals have settled what had become a bitter lawsuit over charges that New Hampshire was getting ready to exploit a federal cash reimbursement provision under Medicaid to land a nine-figure profit while giving hospitals $70 million less under this new design. Gov. Kelly Ayotte announced the settlement that Attorney General John Formella's team had negotiated with the New Hampshire Hospital Association, Dartmouth Health and Concord Hospital that all had sued the state over its Medicaid Enhancement Tax (MET) program. 'This agreement is a win for our state, for rural health care access, and, most importantly, for patients,' Ayotte said in a statement. 'I am proud of my team's tireless efforts to reach a deal, and I thank Dartmouth Health, Concord Hospital, and the Hospital Association for coming back to the table to deliver the best possible outcome for everyone.' This was the third time hospitals had sued over changes to the reimbursement. Two Superior Court judges in the past had ruled the Medicaid tax to be unconstitutional because it's imposed on the state's 26 acute-care hospitals, but not on other providers, such as rehab or day surgery facilities. As with the previous two suits, hospital executives held further talks with state officials after the suit to reach a deal. 'This agreement is an important step toward ensuring that Dartmouth Health can continue to provide critical care to our patients and communities where and when they need it,' said Dr. Janet Conroy, CEO and president of Dartmouth Health. 'We value our partnership with the state and are grateful for Governor Ayotte's support to reach a resolution. We look forward to continued collaboration in support of a strong, sustainable healthcare system for our patients.' According to state officials, the agreement is a 'budget neutral solution' that would deliver $1 billion in total payments to hospitals over the next three years, consistent with what hospitals had requested. In turn, the state would receive $60 million more in benefits compared to previous proposals. 'We are pleased that we were able to reach a settlement agreement with Governor Ayotte that will help strengthen the Medicaid program, support hospitals and other essential providers, and most importantly ensure continued care for the patients and communities who count on our hospitals to be there for them when they are needed most,' said Steven Ahnen, president of the NHHA. In 1991, the state imposed the Medicaid Enhancement Tax on hospitals to qualify the state for bonus matching grants from the federal government. Under the plan, the state pays back the hospitals for nearly all that they paid out in taxes, often on the same day. The state received more than $300 million in annual reimbursements from Washington that it must spend on the federal/state Medicaid program. The Biden administration ordered all states to change the hospital tax and payment arrangements that critics here always called a 'scam.' Federal officials are requiring states to also make direct payments to the hospitals to receive the qualifying federal help, rather than just impose a tax on hospitals and then pay them back. Since a 2018 settlement, hospitals, in the aggregate, had received 91% back of what they paid the state. Former Gov. Chris Sununu last summer directed state officials to lower that reimbursement to 80% and to direct more grants to mental health, substance abuse and federally qualified health care centers that were financially beleaguered. In her two-year state budget plan offered last February, Ayotte stuck with the 80% model for 2026-27. Ahnen said this would have given the state $137 million more than it receives currently, while the hospitals would have gotten $70 million less than they do now. The state's 11 largest hospitals as a group would have lost $100 million, Ahnen said. To ramp up the pressure for a deal, Dartmouth Health, Concord Hospital and other major hospitals withheld the April 15 tax payment putting at risk the state's ability to generate the bonus federal match. 'We are encouraged that through this agreement with the state of New Hampshire quality, affordable health care will continue to be available to the patients and communities we serve at Concord Hospital Health System,' said Robert P. Steigmeyer, president and CEO of the Concord hospital system. 'We remain committed to working with state leaders to uphold our community-focused, charitable mission — now and for generations to come.' This deal puts in the rearview mirror some tough rhetoric from Ayotte after the hospitals had filed a suit. 'Unfortunately, the plaintiffs are only focused on driving more money to billion-dollar corporations and have resorted to playing political games and misleading the public,' Ayotte said at the time. 'They should return to the table and come to an agreement that benefits all Granite Staters.' The 'big beautiful bill' the U.S. House passed by one vote earlier this week to restore Trump tax cuts also would limit such Medicaid Enhancement Taxes to 5%. This could cost this state and the hospitals each tens of millions of dollars in lost revenue. Ayotte, a former U.S. senator, told reporters she won't overreact to the House proposal. 'When it's working its way through the process, it's hard to react to what the impact will be on New Hampshire,' Ayotte said. Many Senate Republicans led by Sen. Josh Hawley of Arkansas have said they would oppose any significant cuts to Medicaid as part of this global federal budget agreement. What's Next: The House Ways and Means Committee meets Tuesday on legislation (SB 249) that deals with this reimbursement scheme. The panel may decide to amend that bill to include terms of this settlement. Prospects: Now that all the major parties are on board, the Legislature will follow suit and with some legislation embrace these terms. klandrigan@
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Good Samaritan pulls Antrim crash victim to safety
Antrim Fire & Ambulance responded to the scene of a motor vehicle crash on Route 9 in the area of Jackson Shores early Saturday morning, according to a Facebook post. The report at 4:15 a.m. was that a single vehicle that had left the roadway, rolled over, and was on fire. They arrived on scene to find a sedan-type vehicle on its side with the engine compartment fully involved with fire, according to the post "Fortunately, a passerby had stopped and extricated the driver from the burning vehicle getting him up to the roadway away from the burning vehicle," the post said. The crash victim, an adult male, had multiple abrasions and neck and back pain, and was transported to Concord hospital, Antrim Fire & Ambulance reported. Antrim Fire conducted fire suppression operations. "There were multiple explosions from the vehicle with ammunition and propane cylinders inside the vehicle. The fuel line to the vehicle had also ruptured adding to the fire. An additional resource for a tanker was requested from Hillsboro Fire for a backup water supply," the post said. The Facebook post said the incident is currently under investigation by Antrim police.
Boston Globe
15-04-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
Hospitals sue New Hampshire over tax that supports Medicaid
Dartmouth Health and Concord Hospital have also joined the lawsuit, which was filed in Merrimack Superior Court on Tuesday. It's not the first time hospitals have fought against the tax. A Superior Court judge Get N.H. Morning Report A weekday newsletter delivering the N.H. news you need to know right to your inbox. Enter Email Sign Up But the 2014 decision 'imperiled the existence of the Medicaid program,' according to the lawsuit, and hospitals reached an agreement with the state to keep raising funds. Some of the money went to meeting federal match requirements to fund the Medicaid program, and hospitals also received a portion of the money back in a reimbursement. Advertisement The state's latest agreement with the hospitals expired last June, and they were unable to reach a new agreement, leading to the lawsuit. Governor Kelly A. Ayotte criticized the lawsuit in a statement, and said the state had put forward a solution that prioritizes patients and protects funding for critical access hospitals, the state's small, rural hospitals that often have tighter margins. Advertisement 'Unfortunately, the plaintiffs are only focused on driving more money to billion-dollar corporations and have resorted to playing political games and misleading the public,' Ayotte said. 'They should return to the table and come to an agreement that benefits all Granite Staters.' But hospitals say the new reimbursement plan proposed by the state is unacceptable as it will cause them to lose $70 million a year, according to the lawsuit. 'This difficult decision was made after months of attempted negotiations with the state to convey the potentially devastating impact this loss of funding will have on our health system's ability to deliver patient care, at a time when the federal government is also threatening to withhold funding,' said Joanne M. Conroy, president of Dartmouth Health. Under the current tax agreement, Dartmouth Health provides 30 percent of the hospitals' total tax payments but would carry 75 percent of the lost revenue, she said. That's because the hospital serves patients from Vermont, who contribute to its revenue but aren't included in its reimbursement. Conroy said in the last three years Dartmouth, a nonprofit health system, has contributed $885 million in community benefits, including free and reduced-priced care and $682 million in uncompensated health care. Steve Ahnen, president of the New Hampshire Hospital Association, said the governor's proposal would impose 'punitive cuts' on hospitals, while delivering an additional $137 million to state coffers. 'It has an immediate impact on access to care,' he said. In recent years, hospitals in aggregate have received a 91 percent reimbursement, but the governor has proposed cutting that to 80 percent, according to Ahnen. Advertisement He said the loss would hurt hospitals, coming at the expense of patient care and benefiting the state. 'We agree that generating more revenue for the Medicaid program is a good thing because it allows us to invest in behavioral health or substance misuse or other services that are needed in the community,' he said. 'But to do so in a way that harms hospitals is absolutely the wrong approach.' According to Ahnen, the hospitals' payments of $348 million help generate $485 million in federal matching funds for the state's Medicaid program. 'We want to protect access to care for patients, and we think there's a way to do that,' Ahnen said. 'We're committed to finding a resolution that works.' Amanda Gokee can be reached at
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Yahoo
NHSP searching for driver who struck woman after leaving scene of crash in Concord, NH
New Hampshire State Police are searching for the driver involved in a hit-and-run crash that left a woman injured in Concord late Friday night. Around 11:50 p.m. on Friday, officers received a report of a crash on I-93 northbound at Exit 13. According to State police, the minor crash between two vehicles involved a Jeep and a silver four-door sedan. As the driver of the Jeep pulled over and exited their vehicle, the driver of the silver sedan allegedly struck them while fleeing the scene. The driver that was struck, an adult female, was transported to Concord Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A Be On the Look Out (BOLO) was issued for the silver sedan. As of now, neither the sedan nor its driver have been located. Anyone who has information on this incident is asked to contact Trooper Kelsey Scott at 603-223-4381, or This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
