Tag Archives: Healthcare

LTE: Living In Fear Without Insurance

  By New Hampshire Labor News | May 2, 2013 - 7:00 am |
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Labor Pic

This is a Letter to the Editor from a fan

Living In Fear Without Insurance

Many have experienced the fear that comes with not having health insurance. Others are covered, but have seen their premiums rise exponentially. New Hampshire has an important opportunity that will address both of these problems: accepting federal funds to expand Medicaid.

Medicaid currently only covers low-income children, people with disabilities, and some parents. This leaves others to fall through the cracks without health coverage they can afford. Expansion would help solve this problem by covering more than 22,000 Granite Staters who would otherwise be uninsured.

A smaller uninsured population would also be good for businesses and consumers who pay for private insurance. Family plans cost around $1000 extra to make up for uninsured people who get care they can’t pay for.

In Concord, the House has already shown their support for the new coverage option. Now we need to ensure the Senate does the same. My Senator, John Reagan, has not yet announced his support for this commonsense solution.

I encourage Senator Reagan’s constituents to contact him at john.reagan111@gmail.com or 603-463-3009 and ask that he do the right thing: accept federal funds and expand Medicaid. Reagan represents Allenstown, Chichester, Deerfield, Epsom, Loudon, Northwood, Nottingham, Pembroke, Pittsfield, Raymond, and Strafford.

Gloria Andrews

Chichester, NH

Governor Hassan Announces $1.6 Million Federal Grant to Help NH Improve Health Care Through Innovation

  By New Hampshire Labor News | February 22, 2013 - 5:00 pm | ,
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Maggie Hassan

Funds Will Allow State to Develop Comprehensive Health Innovation Plan

CONCORD – Governor Maggie Hassan announced today that the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services has been awarded up to $1.6 million in federal funds to develop a State Health Care Innovation Plan to improve quality and reduce growth in health care costs through improved coordination. The State Innovation Model grant program, issued by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation and made possible by the Affordable Care Act, will allow New Hampshire to develop a strategy to transform the health care delivery system through multi-payer payment reform and other state initiatives.

“Innovating in health care is critical for reducing the growth in health care costs and improving the quality of care for all of our people,” said Governor Hassan. “New Hampshire has led the way in health care innovation through initiatives like accountable care organizations, and these federal funds will allow us to develop a comprehensive strategy to continue our progress and strengthen our health care system.”

New Hampshire’s plan will lay out a framework for aligning consumer access across delivery system “silos,” payer support for outcomes-based long term care services, and global accountability for cost-effectiveness and outcomes.

A central tenet of the transformation activities will target opportunities for improved coordination across systems for individuals who are either in need of or at-risk for needing long-term support services; this population will be targeted due to the complex health needs and the cross-cutting nature of the services and payments needed to coordinate their care. Through this process, New Hampshire will leverage ongoing activities in the development of the new system and align the ongoing state and national quality initiatives with the new system.

New Hampshire has six months to submit its plan to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and will use its Health Care Innovation Plan to apply for an anticipated second round of awards.

For more information on the grant please go to:  http://innovation.cms.gov/initiatives/State-Innovations <http://innovation.cms.gov/initiatives/State-Innovations> . To learn more about other innovative models being tested by the CMS Innovation Center, please visit: innovation.cms.gov.

Why Kevin Landrigan May Be Wrong About The State Employees Contract Negotiations

  By Matt Murray | February 3, 2013 - 9:43 am |
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contract signatures

contract signatures

I want to start by saying, that I completely adore Kevin Landrigan.  He is knows more about State Politics in New Hampshire than many of the actual legislators.

However today Kevin and the Nashua Telegraph released this video  ”Pay raise for state employees likely to come at a price” (http://bcove.me/qdgazvi5).  In this short two minute video, Kevin talks about how the State Employees Association is currently entered in negotiations for a new contract.  In this contract negotiation, the SEA is asking for a pay raise among other things.

As always Kevin was very knowledgable about the work that the SEA and other labor unions did to help elect Governor Maggie Hassan.  This however is where I would like to correct Kevin.  The labor unions in New Hampshire who worked to elect Maggie were not doing it to get some huge pay raise.  Many of the unions in NH worked to ensure that Ovide Lamontagne did not get elected.

Yes, as Kevin said, labor and Democrats have a “symbiotic” relationship.  This is mostly because the Republicans tend to be more business friendly, while the Democrats tend to be more worker friendly.  This was completely the case in the race for NH Governor.  The election of Maggie was more about survival.   Ovide Lamontagne was a strong supporter of Right To Work, as well as against Project Labor Agreements (PLA’s).  Lamontagne’s ideas were anti-worker and very anti-union, this is why labor unions were against him.

Now back to the present negotiations with the SEA.  In the video (http://bcove.me/qdgazvi5) Kevin talks about how the SEA is looking for a pay raise.  The problem is that the Governor has a very very tight budget on her hands this term. A budget that, I am sure Kevin would agree with me, will shape her political future as Governor.

Kevin brought up one good point that the SEA is ensuring that everyone knows.  The State Employees (SEA) have gone with out a pay raise for nearly four years.   This has been the case for many employees not just state employees.   Workers pay has been stagnant for quite a while and the recession has pushed workers further down.   The collective bargaining process is one of the ways that workers are going to start making gains in the workplace again.

The process of negotiations is a very delicate balance. It is give and take.  If one side does not give, then the negotiations fall apart. So the idea that in order to get a pay raise the SEA must give something back is a given. The problem is that they have already given. They have given for two full contracts now.

Kevin suggested that if the SEA wants to get a pay raise they are going to have to make concessions on their healthcare package.  I want to make something very clear, giving up on healthcare for a pay raise is not a win.  For example if a worker gets a $1.00 per hour raise, but healthcare goes up by $50.00 per week then workers again lose! ($1.00 p/h X 40= $40 -$50.00 = -$10)

This is a common trick used in corporate business, give the workers a small pay raise and increase their cost (retirement deductions, or healthcare).  The employees are tricked to believe that they are getting something when they are actually being pushed further down.   It is a shell game and I hope that the SEA (and everyone else) does not fall for it.

In many cases labor unions have forgone a pay raise in order to keep their benefits the same.  This is still a net loss for the workers, because the cost of living is always going up.  Just to keep up with inflation workers need a pay raise and this has not happened in years.  This applies to all workers, not just the SEA.  I am sure that Diana Lacey and her team will not be falling for this type of shell game.

I would also like to applaud Kevin Landrigan for his exceptional coverage, of the State House and Government operations.  I just wish that in his next video, he would not imply that workers must give more, to get pay raises that are long overdue.

NH Professional Fire Fighters Union (@PFFNH) Use Right To Know To Get Millions For Local Governments

  By New Hampshire Labor News | December 30, 2012 - 1:59 pm | ,
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david lang and firefighters

Many of the right wing media like to tell everyone that unions are only out for themselves.  The truth is that unions are are out for everyone (and yes that means themselves too).  They are advocates for the middle class and a protector of the people.

In the corporate world, unions are the counter balance to corporate greed and worker abuse.  In the public sector their roles are similar only not only do public sector unions protect the workers (and the public) they work to protect their employer.  This is exactly the case when you look at the Professional Fire Fighters of NH (PFF-NH) and the ongoing case with the Local Government Center.

The case between LGC and the PFF-NH has been going on for over a decade now.  Most of the issues brought to light came from specific questions raised through “Right To Know” requests filed by PFF-NH President David Lang.

In todays Portsmouth Herald (SeacoastOnline.com) they praised President Lang for his work on this case.

“The next time you hear a government official complaining about annoying Right to Know requests, remind them of this: Thanks to New Hampshire’s Right to Know law, and the tenacity of David Lang and the Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire, local cities, towns and public workers are about to receive no less than a $77.5 million refund from state pooled insurance providers. SchoolCare has agreed to pay $8.5 million and Primex between $16 million and $21 million, and the Local Government Center has been ordered by the courts to refund $53 million.

And the amount the LGC owes cities and towns for overcharging and misappropriating health care payments could be as high as $100 million, according to investigators for the state’s Bureau of Securities Regulation.”

Thats right, nearly every town in New Hampshire owes a special thanks to Pres. Lang and the PFF-NH.  Many town and local government will be getting something back from the LGC.

“The LGC protested, fighting our attempts at openness, and after two trips to the Supreme Court, the Court ultimately agreed with our position and the LGC was forced to open its books,” Lang explained to a packed house at the Concord Civic Center, where he and his union received this year’s First Amendment Award from the Nackey Loeb School in November. “Our suspicions were confirmed, and what followed was an exhausting and frustrating multi-year campaign for public recognition of LGC’s funding scheme.”

The seacoast newspaper was quick to point out some of the money coming to area towns.

“Shortly before Christmas local cities and towns learned just how much they’d be getting in a round of payments this month covering just 2011, and some of the figures were significant:

  • Portsmouth: $643,462
  • Hampton: $143,103
  • Exeter: $106,833
  • Rye: $33,139
  • Newington: $23,067
  • Stratham: $20,169″

That is only the first round of payments.

“Then, in August 2013, there will be a second round of payments, including: School Administrative Unit 16/Exeter school district: $362,386, SAU 21/Winnacunnet: $244,485, Portsmouth School District: $192,070 and SAU 50 (Greenland, Rye, New Castle, Newington): $77,480.”

This article does not show the money that the LGC owes all local governments however using these towns as a baseline you can see where the chips are going to fall.

In an effort to protect the workers, Lang and the PFF-NH ended up saving the taxpayers $50 million dollars.

“As public employees we found ourselves in the uncomfortable position of publicly defending the rising cost of health insurance at the bargaining table and in the media, when we knew that the cost did not need to be that high,” Lang said. “Compounding the issue was that cities, towns, taxpayers and the media were calling upon firefighters to work for lower pay and benefits in order to compensate for the rising costs of health care. The dynamic had serious potential to reduce the number of firefighters on duty, which leads to increased response times to fires and medical emergencies and ultimately leads to reduced safety in our communities.”

Be sure to read the full editorial from the SeacoastOnline, then stop by the Professional Fire Fighters of NH Facebook page and say ‘THANKS’ to President Lang and all the members of the PFF-NH for all the do in protecting the public and serving the taxpayers.

To Address NH’s Mental Health Problems, We Must Increase Funding To Mental Health Care

  By New Hampshire Labor News | December 17, 2012 - 11:10 am |
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mental health care

As we grieve with the families of Newtown, Connecticut, we should take a moment to reflect on the condition of New Hampshire’s mental health system.

“Mental health care in New Hampshire has become a game of musical chairs.  Budgets are tighter, meaning fewer treatment beds. And patient numbers keep rising, meaning more people left without treatment.  The wait for a bed at NH Hospital, the state’s only psychiatric hospital, is often days, and those waiting stay in windowless emergency rooms occasionally requiring security if the patients get agitated. It is not uncommon for a dozen people to wait at Concord Hospital on a weekend hoping a bed at NH Hospital will open.”  Read the full Business NH article here.

According to a 2011 Dartmouth College Policy Brief,

Over the past decade, the demand for mental health services in New Hampshire has greatly increased while the system has been affected by numerous budget cuts. This has led to reduced or closed programs, staff shortages, layoffs, and extended waiting lists. In addition to direct impacts on the mental health system, the budget cuts have also led to an increased usage in other areas such as correctional facilities, the judiciary system, and emergency rooms.

And that was written before the latest budget cycle – which, among other cuts, sharply reduced the CHINS (Children in Need of Services) program.

“A certain, probably substantial percentage of these kids — their behavior is going to get worse if they don’t get help,” Lightfoot said 

The nearly 1,000 children in a given year — 400 to 500 at any given time — who have traditionally been served through CHINS would be reduced to about 50.  “A certain, probably substantial percentage of these kids — their behavior is going to get worse if they don’t get help,” [Jack] Lightfoot said. “When they don’t get help for whatever issue, they become more likely to become a more serious criminal. I think we have to be very careful about that.”

Read the full Fosters article here.

One week ago, the state Department of Health and Human Services announced it would soon reopen a dozen beds at NH Hospital, and would seek additional mental health funding in the next budget cycle.  NH Hospital has closed three units with 60 beds since 2009. Read the full Union Leader story here.

 

Cecile Richards (Planned Parenthood) Calls Maggie Hassan a Champion for Women’s Health

  By New Hampshire Labor News | October 25, 2012 - 5:56 am | , ,
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Maggie Hassan

Blasts Ovide Lamontagne’s Radical Ideas That Will Increase Health Care Costs for Women and Families

CONCORD – Cecile Richards, the President of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund*, praised Democratic candidate for Governor Maggie Hassan as a “longtime champion of women’s right to control their own health care” at a Women for Maggie press conference today.  Richards and Hassan were joined by Senate Democratic Leader Sylvia Larsen, House Democratic Leader Terie Norelli, and numerous Women for Maggie members who came out to show their support for Maggie Hassan’s vision to keep New Hampshire’s economy moving forward by including everyone as equals.

“The stakes for women’s health and rights are higher than ever in this election, and I am proud to support Maggie Hassan for governor of New Hampshire,” said Richards.  “Access to affordable health care, including birth control, is a basic economic issue for women and families. Ovide Lamontagne is far outside the mainstream on women’s health, and New Hampshire can’t afford his extreme agenda. Maggie Hassan will stand up to the Tea Party agenda and she has the right plan to keep New Hampshire moving forward.”

Ovide Lamontagne has tried to dismiss issues related to “reproductive rights … whatever those are.” In response to questions from voters, he has said, it is not “topical” and not “central” to the campaign, and criticized people for raising the issue. He has even tried to suggest that a Governor couldn’t impact access to birth control or abortion, although his allies have already filed legislation that would ban abortion in the first six weeks.

“We face a clear choice in this election. ” said Hassan.  “My ‘Innovate NH’ jobs plan focuses on making sure all of our citizens can participate equally in our economy.  Ovide thinks women should sacrifice their freedom, their economic security and control over their health care to his radical agenda. I believe that we can have a strong economy, create jobs and still protect the freedom and liberty of all of our citizens. In this election, we can either move forward, building on the foundation established by Governor Lynch, to help our businesses and families succeed, or we can go radically backward in the direction proposed by Ovide Lamontagne and the Tea Party legislature.”

Like Ovide Lamontagne, the current legislature claimed that it was focused on “jobs and the economy,” and then pushed numerous bills aimed at restricting access to abortion; defunding Planned Parenthood; and letting insurance companies drop coverage for birth control.

“The only thing slowing down some of these bills was the promise of a veto from Governor John Lynch. Just like this legislature, Ovide Lamontagne is not being straight with us about what he would do as Governor,” said House Democratic Leader Terie Norelli. “While he has repeatedly said women’s health care issues don’t matter, Ovide Lamontagne has confessed that he will sign any anti-choice legislation that comes to his desk – even if it banned abortion for victims of rape and incest.”

Ovide Lamontagne has been endorsed by the anti-choice Susan B. Anthony List, and has long supported an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would ban abortion, even for the victims of rape and incest. He has said he would sign legislation defunding Planned Parenthood and bills restricting access to abortion.

“The good news is that women don’t have to choose between their health care and the economy. Maggie Hassan has a plan to build our economy and support the efforts of our businesses to create jobs – without sacrificing the health care or equality of women,” said Senate Democratic Leader Sylvia Larsen.

Maggie Hassan has a strong record of standing up for a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions, and strongly opposes the legislature’s recent attacks on women’s health care, such as measures to restrict the right to choose and to defund Planned Parenthood, making services like cancer screenings, fertility treatments, and access to birth control more expensive and less available.

Hassan’s “Innovate NH” jobs plan will help businesses grow and keep New Hampshire’s economy moving forward by focusing on education to build the best workforce in the country, providing tax credits to businesses, and giving businesses technical assistance to help them create jobs.

Ovide Lamontagne has said he would be a “radically different” governor than Governor Lynch, with extreme positions like repealing the guarantee of public kindergarten; rejecting federal funds for local schools;  and ignoring rising tuition costs caused by cuts to higher education. He supports plans to dismantle Medicare, criminalize abortion – even in the case of rape or incest – and limit insurance coverage for birth control, and defund Planned Parenthood, increasing costs for critical health care services for New Hampshire women and families.