Senate Democrats Lead Effort to Return Approximately $29 Million in Federal Funding to New Hampshire

January 30, 2020

Contact Name: Sara Persechino

Phone: (603) 271-3479

Email: Sara.Persechino@leg.state.nh.us

CONCORD – Today, the Senate voted in favor of SB 684-FN, Senator Kahn’s bill to fix the problem created by emergency rules for the Medicaid to Schools program instituted by Governor Sununu’s administration which severed the connection between federal reimbursement and school district funding for medically necessary services. SB 684-FN reconnects school district services with federal reimbursement by qualifying school staff through health related professional licensure, removing doubts about future funding.

Following the vote, prime sponsor Senator Jay Kahn (D-Keene) issued this statement:

“There are 171 of 176 school districts in the state that have been participating in the federal reimbursement program. There are school counselors, mental health counselors, speech language pathologists, and other specialized care givers who are employed by our school system and certified by the Department of Education.

SB 684 provides a pathway for school professionals being additionally licensed by health related professional licensing boards. We are acting on an accelerated schedule to help schools recover up to $29 million of reimbursement blocked by the Sununu administration’s emergency rules.”

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