Press Releases

Hodes sends letter to CMS Director laying out regulations’ flaws

Concord, NH- Congressman Hodes sent a letter today to Dennis Smith, Director of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), expressing grave concern over the Center’s recent alteration of regulations which govern the administration of New Hampshire ’s SCHIP (State Children’s Health Insurance Program).

“CMS is trying to move the goal posts in the 4th quarter,” Congressman Hodes said. “If they get their way, 2,000 New Hampshire children will be less likely to visit a doctor or get adequate health care. This letter is just the beginning- I plan to fight CMS’s decision until these arbitrary and unreasonable regulations are fixed.”

Currently, children whose families earn up to 300% of the Federal Poverty Level qual if y for SCHIP. The new regulations stipulate, among other things, that 95% of SCHIP-eligible children whose families make under 250% of the Federal Poverty Level be enrolled before the remaining funding can be released. Congressman Hodes points out that despite concerted efforts, no state in the country has been able to enroll 95% of eligible children. In effect, these new rules will strip over 2,000 New Hampshire children (those whose families fall between the 250% and 300% of the Federal Poverty Level) of their access to SCHIP.

www.hodes.house.gov