CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — New Hampshire’s gubernatorial candidates propose taking the state down starkly different paths on providing health care to its poorest uninsured residents.
Democrat Maggie Hassan says she would accept an option under the federal health care overhaul and cover thousands of people by expanding Medicaid. Republican Ovide Lamontagne (OH’-vid lah-MAHN’-tang) says he would reject that option and instead try to get the federal government to give money to let New Hampshire design its own solution to the problem.
Both paths promise uncertain results. There is no guarantee that Lamontagne could negotiate with the federal government, and the costs and benefits of expanding Medicaid as Hassan proposes are only rough estimates.
The state Department Health and Human Services hopes a new study will better estimate potential costs of expanding Medicaid.
