Here is a timeline of events and news related to growing state budget
concerns and lack of transparency:
July 10, 2014 – Reports emerge that enrollment in the State’s traditional Medicaid program has spiked, in part due to the ACA related individual mandates, and that DHHS is facing a $37 million budget shortfall.
See: NHPR – Medicaid Enrollment Jumps By 11,000, Stretching State Budget
July 25, 2014 – DHHS released figures showing that Medicaid caseloads were decreasing in late 2013, but then began to spike as a result of Obamacare mandate and information campaigns
August 7, 2014 – Senate Finance Chair Jeanie Forrester (R-Meredith) calls on Hassan to report on state spending, citing concerns agencies including HHS are over budget
August 9, 2014 – Union Leader ties the spike in enrollment to an effort by the Hassan administration to bypass the legislature, despite objections, and obtain a $5.4m grant to promote enrollment in health plans as part of Obamacare, including Medicaid.
See: Union Leader: Not ‘conservative’: Hassan’s Medicaid budget hole
August 12, 2014 – Policy expert and Union Leader Columnist Charlie Arlinghaus points out the Governor’s inability to comply with requests from legislative leaders to release agency budget details, and analyze how big this and other budget holes are.
See: Charles Arlinghaus: Why is the government hiding its problems from us?
August 13, 2014 – Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley renews call for spending update as HHS goes $100 million over budget
See: Nashua Telegraph – GOP says NH faces looming $100M budget deficit
August 14, 2014 – Union Leader Editorial: “NH budget is in a shambles”
