CONCORD, N.H. — On Tuesday, the US Senate passed President Trump’s massive tax bill in a narrow 51-50 vote. It contains a sprawling collection of GOP priorities such as tax breaks, spending cuts, and new money for national defense and deportations.
Both of New Hampshire’s Democratic senators denounced the bill and said it would have a detrimental impact on the Granite State.
“I’m deeply disappointed that my Republican colleagues passed a bill that will rip away health care and food assistance for millions of Americans, spike health care premiums and increase energy costs for millions more, all so that the President can cut taxes for the ultra wealthy,” said Senator Jeanne Shaheen in a statement.
Senator Maggie Hassan said the bill passed by the Senate “will hurt Granite Staters for generations to come.”
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The bill has to pass the House again before Trump can sign it into law. He’s set a target of doing so by Friday – the Fourth of July.
Here are three ways the bill could impact New Hampshire.
Medicaid
There are about 185,000 people on Medicaid in New Hampshire. An analysis from the Joint Economic Committee Minority released Monday estimated that about 46,400 of them could lose coverage if the bill becomes law.
The bill includes a provision requiring some adults to work, volunteer or attend school for 80 hours a month in order to enroll in Medicaid, unless they qualify for an exception, according to the New York Times. Work requirements can drive down enrollment when people fail to report their work status or document eligibility for an exemption.
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New administrative burdens could cost the state tens of millions of dollars in technology upgrades and personnel costs, according to Jim Monahan, who leads an ad-hoc group of healthcare advocates in New Hampshire. Having nearly 50,000 people suddenly lose coverage could increase the cost of uncompensated care for providers, and Monahan’s group warned it could drive up commercial insurance rates.
Food assistance and SNAP
The Senate’s bill also includes changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which helps low-income families buy groceries. It would institute work requirements for many recipients, require states to pay some of the benefits the government previously covered, and increase how much states pay toward administering the program.
Currently, there are about 77,000 people in New Hampshire who receive SNAP benefits. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities found that work requirements could cause 15,000 people in New Hampshire to lose some of their food assistance, including children.
Planned Parenthood
The Republican budget passed by the Senate also includes a provision banning Planned Parenthood health centers nationally from participating in the Medicaid program. The program helps people with lower incomes get some types of basic reproductive health care including birth control, cancer screenings, and STI testing and treatment, according to a spokesperson for Planned Parenthood NH Action Fund.
In New Hampshire, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England sees about 10,000 patients per year at four health centers, and one in five of those patients have Medicaid insurance.
Kayla Montgomery, vice president of Public Affairs for the Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund, said for now, none of the New Hampshire health centers are at risk of closing.
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Amanda Gokee can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her @amanda_gokee.