Lawmakers in New Hampshire are voting on a $10.7 billion budget that eases the waiting time for services to the disabled and mentally ill, but puts off a decision on whether to expand Medicaid to 58,000 poor adults.
The Legislature votes today on a budget package negotiated last week that also creates a nine-member commission to study expanding Medicaid and then issue a report in October.
Governor Maggie Hassan says a special legislative session may be needed in the fall to authorize expanding Medicaid under the federal health care law set to go into effect Jan. 1.
The budget contains no new tax increases, but counts on money from a 10 cent increase in the cigarette tax automatically due to take effect this summer.
The budget is for the two years starting July 1.
