A federal judge has rejected New Hampshire's motion to dismiss a lawsuit against 10 state hospitals, saying the hospitals have legal ground to sue over the state's Medicaid cuts, according to a New Hampshire Watchdog report.
New Hampshire's hospitals have been pitted against state legislators since last year after the state approved a plan to cut $250 million from Medicaid, including cuts to hospital Medicaid reimbursement rates. The hospitals said New Hampshire officials violated the federal Medicaid Act by providing inadequate reimbursement.
Federal District Court Judge Stephen McAuliffe wrote the hospitals "have made a strong showing that the reduced Medicaid reimbursement rates at issue are likely inconsistent with the State's legal obligations to set Medicaid rates at a level capable of sustaining the delivery of medical care to the needy, and in a manner consistent with the federally approved state Medicaid plan," according to the report.
The next hearing for the case will take place Nov. 1.
New Hampshire's hospitals have been pitted against state legislators since last year after the state approved a plan to cut $250 million from Medicaid, including cuts to hospital Medicaid reimbursement rates. The hospitals said New Hampshire officials violated the federal Medicaid Act by providing inadequate reimbursement.
Federal District Court Judge Stephen McAuliffe wrote the hospitals "have made a strong showing that the reduced Medicaid reimbursement rates at issue are likely inconsistent with the State's legal obligations to set Medicaid rates at a level capable of sustaining the delivery of medical care to the needy, and in a manner consistent with the federally approved state Medicaid plan," according to the report.
The next hearing for the case will take place Nov. 1.
More Articles on New Hampshire Medicaid:
CMS Probes New Hampshire Medicaid Cuts
New Hampshire Hospitals: State Medicaid is "Broken"
New Hampshire's LRG Healthcare to Stop Accepting Medicaid Patients