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Radical Republican proposal would slash Healthy Kids Silver program, bill would make health care less affordable, accessible to low income NH families
New Hampshire House Republicans have introduced legislation (HB 1283) to dramatically curtail access to the state's Healthy Kids Silver program. The proposal would cut more than 1500 children from a health care plan that provides low income families with access to affordable health insurance.
"The radical House Republican proposal would be devastating for New Hampshire families," said Derek Richer, press secretary for the New Hampshire Democratic Party. "People are struggling and reducing access to affordable health care for children from low income families is completely irresponsible."
"Kicking 1500 children off of their health insurance would be a disaster," continued Richer. "House Republicans should stop trying to rewrite the budget with reckless cuts that target the state's most vulnerable citizens."
"Governor Lynch and legislative Democrats worked hard to balance the budget while protecting essential services like these. Republicans should come to the table and work with Democrats on real solutions that both address the economic challenges we face and protect working families," Richer added.
House Republicans have introduced a series of measures that slash access to medical care in New Hampshire. In addition to HB 1283 that rolls back the Healthy Kids Silver program, House Republicans have also introduced legislation to slash Medicaid. This proposal (HB 1587) would eliminate access to a wide range of essential services for poor seniors, the mentally disabled, and handicapped individuals including funding for prescription drug coverage, wheelchair vans and mental health care, among other services.
The legislation (HB1587) would also eliminate the state's home-and-community-based care program, forcing seniors out of their homes into more expensive nursing homes. And it would eliminate funding for home-based programs for people with developmental disabilities and acquired brain injuries, forcing them into more expensive care.
"The drastic health care cuts proposed by House Republicans just goes to show how truly out of touch they are with the people of New Hampshire," continued Richer. "While legislative Democrats are working hard to improve the lives of everyone in the New Hampshire, Republicans want to return the state to the Dark Ages."
(Posted by Derek Richer, Press Secretary of the New Hampshire Democratic Party)
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