This bill amends the eligibility criteria for long-term care services by adding "mobility" to the list of activities of daily living that must be considered for Medicaid eligibility. Specifically, it modifies RSA 151-E:3 to state that a person is eligible for nursing facility services or Medicaid home and community-based care if they require assistance with two or more activities of daily living, which now explicitly includes mobility. The bill also mandates that the Department of Health and Human Services must obtain a determination of an applicant's need for long-term care from their primary care physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse, and consider information from other healthcare providers.

Additionally, the bill removes the term "medicaid" and replaces it with "Medicaid" for proper capitalization. It also clarifies that if skilled professional medical personnel cannot determine eligibility, the department must rely on the primary care provider's assessment and give substantial weight to other clinical information provided. The bill does not define "mobility," which may lead to ambiguity in determining eligibility. The Department of Health and Human Services anticipates that these changes could result in increased costs exceeding $2.5 million annually, funded through a combination of general and federal funds.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 151-E:3
As Amended by the Senate (2nd): 151-E:3
As Amended by the Senate: 151-E:3