SR 03-24 Dated 04/03

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

INTER-DEPARTMENT COMMUNICATION

SUMMARY

This SR releases increases in the monthly premium and co-payment amounts in the Title XXI Healthy Kids Silver Program.

BACKGROUND

Currently, the healthcare market is highly volatile and purchasers are experiencing double digit increases. Office of Health Planning & Medicaid and the New Hampshire Healthy Kids Corp. Board of Directors initiated the rate increases released in this SR, the first increase in the rates since the program began in 1999, to allow the program to combat inflationary escalation and continue to provide affordable health care coverage to eligible uninsured New Hampshire children.

POLICY

In accordance with the Director’s Memo dated 12/18/02, the monthly Healthy Kids Silver premium payments and client co-payments increased as follows effective January 1, 2003:

·   Monthly premiums increased by $5, to $25 and $45, respectively per child per month.

·   The maximum monthly premium payment for the families paying $45 per month increased from $100 to $135.

·   The maximum monthly premium payment for families paying $25 per month remained at $100.

The provider co-payment increased as follows:

·   Co-payments for covered provider office visits increased from $5 to $10.

·   Co-payments for each non-emergent or unauthorized outpatient emergency room visit increased from $25 to $50.

·   Prescription drug co-payments remained the same.

In addition, policy was revised to reflect that children who are Native American Indians or Alaskan Natives do not have to pay premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, co-payments or any other cost-sharing charges.

Family Assistance Manual pages were revised accordingly and released in SR 03-07, dated April, 2003. Additionally, NHHK updated all enrollment and public education information to reflect the changes released in this SR.

IMPLEMENTATION

The increases released by this SR were effective January 1, 2003.

CLIENT NOTIFICATION

Notification of the premium and co-payment increases was published in the Rulemaking Register on September 13, 2002. A public hearing was held on October 4, 2002. Additionally, a meeting with community partners was held, and all families received notice of this change prior to its implementation.

TRAINING

Training on this topic is not necessary.

DISPOSITION

This SR may be destroyed or deleted after its contents have been noted and the SR has been posted to the On-line manual.

DISTRIBUTION

This SR will be distributed according to the electronic distribution list for Division of Family Assistance policy releases. This SR will be available for agency staff in the On-Line Manual Library, and for public access on the Internet at http://www.dhhs.state.nh.us/DHHS/DFA/LIBRARY, effective April 1, 2003.

This SR will be distributed under separate cover to all hard copy holders of the Family Assistance Manual and to New Hampshire Healthy Kids Corporation.

DFA/JB:jbv