establishing a committee to study state guidelines for Medicaid eligibility determinations.

SB 257 establishes a committee to study whether New Hampshire should change its Medicaid eligibility process from its current system (using SSI 209b criteria) to the method used by 39 other states (SSI 1634), which automatically connects SSI applications to Medicaid coverage. The committee will examine how other states handle eligibility, compare New Hampshire’s stricter approach with the automatic coverage model, and gather input from the Department of Health and Human Services and county nursing homes. This study directly affects individuals seeking Medicaid coverage in New Hampshire, as it could lead to changes in how eligibility is determined. The bill does not change eligibility rules itself but initiates a review of potential policy shifts.