Welcome to the inaugural post on the NH Health Policy Hub blog!
Let’s get right to it- the last few weeks in health policy have been busy in New Hampshire:
On October 17, IHPP held its annual symposium, this year entitled, “Continuing the quest for affordable and equitable healthcare.” Attendees discussed the wicked problem of healthcare costs and affordability in New Hampshire. The day’s dialogue included the current trends in healthcare prices and the affordability crisis in healthcare, affordability as a component of access and equity, primary care’s role in improving costs and outcomes, equity beyond affordability, and available state policy solutions to address cost and affordability, such as cost growth benchmarks with Rachel Block of Milbank Memorial Fund and prohibiting anti-competitive contracting with Maureen Hensley-Quinn at NASHP.
On October 25, the New Hampshire Insurance Department held its annual hearing on its report on NH healthcare premium rates and claims. Public comment is being accepted on the report through November 15, 2024. NHID also held a robust discussion of using a total healthcare expenditure model to learn more about New Hampshire’s drivers of healthcare costs – neatly echoing the cost growth benchmark discussion that was held the week prior at the symposium. Panelists included Rhode Island’s Health Insurance Commissioner, Cory King and President of the Milbank Memorial Funds, Chris Koller.
Meanwhile, the Attorney General’s office held a public hearing about the proposal for HCA to purchase Catholic Medical Center on October 23, 2024. Public comments are being accepted through November 1, 2024.
Last in this post, but certainly not least, Medicare Open Enrollment began on October 15 and Marketplace Open Enrollment begins November 1.
We hope you’ll check back here soon for more health policy nerdery. We are excited to welcome you to this new space!
-Deb Fournier
for the NH Health Policy Hub
