NH DHHS Announces Public Forums to Introduce Granite Advantage Health Care Program
Medicaid Expansion Population Transitions to Medicaid Care Management on January 1st~~~~
Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has announced a series of public forums across the State to introduce the Granite Advantage Health Care Program, the new health insurance program for people enrolled in expanded Medicaid.
In January 2019, Granite Advantage will replace the New Hampshire Health Protection Program’s (NHHPP) Premium Assistance Program (PAP). During the public meetings, DHHS will engage and inform on Granite Advantage open enrollment, the transition to Medicaid Care Management, and a new community engagement and work requirement.
“When the Legislature created the Granite Advantage Health Care Program, it called on the Department to transition people receiving health care coverage through commercial insurance carriers to Medicaid Care Management and introduced a community engagement and work requirement,” said DHHSCommissioner Jeffrey A. Meyers. “The transition to Granite Advantage means changes for members, and the Department is holding these public forums to make it as seamless as possible for members to maintain their health insurance coverage and achieve healthy outcomes.”
Effective January 1, 2019, impacted individuals will receive health insurance through the New Hampshire Medicaid Care Management program, which uses two health plans to manage health care for members. All beneficiaries recently received a letter from DHHS regarding Granite Advantage open enrollment from November 1-December 28, when they can select one of the health plans to provide their health insurance coverage. These health plans cover the same services as the New Hampshire Medicaid program and also offer additional optional services, programs, and other extras to promote healthy behavior.
Granite Advantage also includes community engagement and work requirement for members between the ages of 19-64, unless otherwise exempted, to maintain their health insurance. Attendees at the public meetings will learn about the new requirement, the qualifying activities for meeting the 100 hours per month required to maintain eligibility.
The presentations will also cover Granite Workforce, a pilot work program for Granite Advantage members to assist them in meeting the work and community engagement requirement. Granite Workforce is being offered by NH Employment Security (NHES) and the NH Department of Health and Human Services, and will provide job training, case management services and employment supports.
DHHS will hold the 11 Public Forums throughout the State to allow individuals enrolled in the NHHPP, community organizations, providers, and other stakeholders to engage with DHHS on the transition to Medicaid Care Management. The sessions are scheduled for 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm so that those who work during the day are able to attend. The following public forums have been scheduled:
Rochester
Monday, November 19, 2018
Rochester Community Center
150 Wakefield Street
Rochester, NH
Concord
Monday, November 26, 2018
DHHS Brown Building Auditorium
129 Pleasant Street
Concord, New Hampshire
Nashua
Tuesday, November 27, 2018
Nashua Community College, Room 150
505 Amherst Street
Nashua, NH 03063
Manchester
Thursday, November 29, 2018
Aldermanic Chambers, 3rd Floor
One City Hall Plaza
Manchester, New Hampshire
Laconia
Monday, December 3, 2018
City Council Chambers
45 Beacon Street East
Laconia, NH 03246
Conway
Wednesday, December 5, 2018
Conway Public Library Community Room
15 Greenwood Avenue
Conway, NH 03818
Littleton
Thursday, December 12, 2018
Littleton Opera House
2 Union Street
Littleton, NH 03561
Public forums in Claremont, Colebrook, Exeter, and Keene will be announced when dates for those events have been determined.
If accommodations are needed for communication access such as interpreters, CART (captioning), assistive listening devices, or other auxiliary aids and/or services, please contact Leslie Melby at Leslie.Melby@dhhs.nh.govor 603-271-9074 no later than five business days prior to the scheduled Public Forum date. At least 5 business days advance notice is requested in order to assure availability; requests made fewer than 5 days prior to the event will attempt to be accommodated but cannot be guaranteed.
For more information about the Granite Advantage Health Care Program, please visit www.dhhs.nh.gov/ombp/medicaid/granite.htm. To select a new Medicaid Care Management plan, please visit https://nheasy.nh.gov/.