NH Medicaid

New Hampshire Medicaid is a federal and state funded insurance program that serves individuals and families who meet financial and other eligibility requirements. Medicaid for children, ages 0-19 provides a full range of health and dental services to eligible children at no cost to the family. A child will receive care from doctors, dentists and health care providers who are contracted as Medicaid Providers.

The Division of Family Assistance (DFA) determines Medicaid financial eligibility and all non-financial eligibility, with the exception of medical necessity determinations, for the following groups: children under the age of 19, pregnant women, low-income families with children, blind individuals, refugees, non-citizens, seniors, and disabled adults.

In order to be eligible a family must meet  income and resource limits (see Income Guidelines on sidebar).

Eligibilities:

Children’s Medicaid (CM): provides free health and dental coverage for children up to age 20 with family income less than or equal to 196% of the federal poverty income limits (i.e. family of four with a gross monthly income of about $4,100. (Please note this amount can change)

Children’s Expanded Medicaid: provides the same health benefits of Children’s Medicaid but covers children up to age 19 and the financial eligibility is 196% up to but not more than 318% of the federal poverty income limits (i.e. family of four with a gross monthly income of $6,652. (Please note this amount can change).

Home Care for Children with Severe Disabilities (HCCSD): (Often called “Katie Beckett”) is for children with severe disabilities up to age 19 whose medical/behavioral disability is so severe that they qualify under a medical determination for Social Security Supplemental Income eligibility and for institutional care, but who are being cared for at home. Only the income and resources of the child are counted towards eligibility for this program.

Podcast: Are you trying to figure out what Katie Beckett Medicaid is? Terry Ohlson-Martin and Jenn Pineo talk about eligibility, how Katie Beckett works with other insurances and provide general information to help you understand what Katie Beckett Medicaid is for families in New Hampshire. (Podcast Transcript)

Medicaid for Adults ages 19-21 yrs.: Children with special challenges may be eligible to continue coverage through the Aid to the Permanently and Totally Disabled (APTD) or Aid to the Needy Blind (ANB) eligibilities with the same benefits until the age of 21. After turning 21 yrs, benefits change.

Aid to the Needy Blind (ANB): a category of eligibility that requires an individual (child or adult) to be diagnosed as legally blind. The visual acuity in the better eye can be no greater than 20/200.

Aid To The Permanently Disabled (APTD): When a person turns 18 years old, Medicaid considers them an adult. Eligibility for Medicaid is based on income and assets as well as medical condition. An adult applying for Medicaid must have a severe, impairing health condition that has lasted and is expected to last for a minimum of 48 months (4 years) and have income levels at or below poverty level with assets (savings account, trust, etc) below $2,500. This Medicaid eligibility is called Aid to the Totally and Permanently Disabled (APTD). If a person is working and their income is too high for this program, but they still qualify medically, they may qualify for Medicaid for Employed Adults with Disabilities or MEAD.

Medicaid for Employed Adults with Disabilities (MEAD): provides Medicaid coverage to adults with disabilities who are working and who would not otherwise be financially eligible for Medicaid. MEAD was designed to allow individuals with disabilities to increase their working income and have higher resource limits.

Applying for New Hampshire Medicaid

The Division of Family Assistance offers NH EASY Gateway to Services, New Hampshire’s Electronic Application System. You can search for DHHS services, apply or reapply for assistance, check eligibility, report changes, track your application status and more by visiting the NH EASY web page. Applications can also be done at field offices called DHHS – District Offices (DO’S).

When You Receive NH Medicaid

The Medicaid Care Management (MCM) program uses two Health Plans. Each Health Plan has its own network of doctors, nurses and other providers. These health plans cover the same services that NH Medicaid does and they also offer optional services, programs, and other extras including wellness and prevention programs.

You will be asked to pick from these three Health Plans:

Get more information about NH’s Medicaid Care Management

Informational resources from NHDHHS:

What You Need To Know – Rights and contact information for problems encountered

Tip Sheets

Medicaid Care Management A Tool for Families Having Children with Special Healthcare Needs

A suggested process for making an informed decision

Picking a Medicaid Care Management Health Plan can be a bit overwhelming when your child has special needs. NH Family Voices and Special Medical Services collaborated on this tool in hopes it will help families look at the providers they are currently using and how they would fit into one of MCO networks.


PIO Medicaid Managed Care

In 2011 the NH legislature signed into law (SB147), a requirement for the NH Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to transition all of NH Medicaid to a managed care type of service. That legislation has led to many changes for families who use NH Medicaid as a way to pay for health care for themselves and their children. This document was developed to educate families about managed care in the Medicaid world. It helps you to understand how managed care works, what may be asked of you and what you can ask of others.


Partnering with Your Child’s Provider

You can develop partnerships with your child’s doctors and other providers. These partnerships will help your child receive the best healthcare. Start with clear communication between you and providers. Be sure to share your cultural differences so that they do not become barriers to access and service. The following tips will help you prepare for an office visit, talk with your child’s provider, and learn more after the visit.


Partnering with Your Child’s Health Plan

Health plans can benefit from learning more about CYSHCN from families who have been there, done that. Look for opportunities to share your experiences with your health plan through Family Advisory Councils or other committees. Join with other families to share information. Help others learn about cultural differences so that they do not become barriers to good care. Use this tip sheet to begin a dialogue with your child’s health care plan. Help them examine and improve their programs, policies and resources for CYSHCN.

Resources on Medicaid

In July 2014 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued a Clarification of Medicaid Coverage of Services to Children with Autism (ASD CMS Guidance), which made clear that states must provide evidence-based treatments for children with ASD in Medicaid.


Health Advocate: EPSDT Coverage for Children with Autism – 2015
Health Advocate reviews the advocacy history that led up to guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to ensure that state EPSDT programs keep up with the evolving standard of care for children. In July 2014, CMS issued a Clarification of Medicaid Coverage of Services to Children with Autism, which made clear that states must provide evidence-based treatments for children with ASD in Medicaid.


kaiserreport-146x2061

A Guide to the Medicaid Appeals Process by Kaiser

This background brief provides a comprehensive look at the appeals process for the Medicaid program, which differs significantly from those available through the Medicare program and private health insurance. The Medicaid appeals process provides redress for individual applicants and beneficiaries the process is multi-layered and can be complex to navigate. The guide describes Medicaid’s appeals system, including the fair hearing process and coverage expands under health reform and efforts proceed to integrate services for dual eligible, who are enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid, protections through the appeals process will be increasingly important.


  Medicaid and The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) by the Catalyst Center (Updated 2016)

This tutorial gives a broad overview of Medicaid and CHIP, the many different populations these programs serve, the changes they are undergoing under health reform, and some detail to help readers think about opportunities to improve access to coverage for Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) through communication and collaboration with Medicaid and CHIP staff. The tutorial starts with an overview of how definitions of CSHCN may vary by agency or program, followed by eight major topic areas and then recommendations for steps Title V programs can take to build successful partnerships with public insurance programs.

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