New Hampshire
Low-income health care takes biggest hit with New Hampshire House budget – NH Business Review
No one will feel the effects of the two-year budget passed by the New Hampshire House more, if it is enacted, than New Hampshire low-income residents who need help paying for, and accessing, health care.
The $15.36 billion FY 2026-27 budget passed by the House Thursday, April 10, cuts Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s $16 billion proposal by $643 million. It takes its deepest cut from the state Department of Health and Human Services — $269 million less than what was proposed by Ayotte in February. That includes $46 million in “back-of-budget” cuts, which aren’t specified in the state budget, but up to the agency head to come up with.
Many of those cuts are to Medicaid-related services; programs that provide health care support; resources and aid for the elderly, people with disabilities and those with low incomes. It eliminates programs designed to reduce health care costs overall in the state, and raises fees and costs for low-income people who receive Medicaid.
Ayotte said this week she hopes to work with the New Hampshire Senate, which has until June 5 to amend the House proposal, including cuts to mental health and disability services. Any disagreements between the House and Senate are worked out in a committee of conference, and the two-year budget goes into effect July 1.
The DHHS budget represents a massive share of the services the state provides to residents. It was $6.58 billion in the current fiscal biennium, representing 44% of the states’ expenditures.
House Republican budget leaders say the deep DHHS cuts from what Ayotte proposed are necessary to help close an $800,000 gap in their revenue projections as compared to the governor’s.
But those who opposed the budget said it goes too far, particularly when it comes to the state’s low-income residents.
“This budget will have devastating and long-lasting effects on the neediest in our state,” Rep. Mary Jane Wallner, D-Concord, said during the House Ways and Means approval process. Thursday’s vote was along party lines, with Democrats, in the minority, attempting to amend some of the cuts or fee increases. Most of those efforts were unsuccessful.
“If enacted, these proposed cuts will certainly have an impact on the lives, dignity, and futures of Granite Staters,” Kate Frey, vice president of advocacy at New Futures, said in an online statement Thursday. New Futures is a nonprofit that provides data and research on the health of New Hampshire children and families.
“The people who will feel these cuts the hardest are families struggling to make ends meet, older adults dependent on critical support services, people accessing treatment and recovery for substance use, health care providers reliant on state investment, and working individuals who rely on basic health care and economic opportunities,” Frey said.
Many of the biggest cuts, as well as fee hikes, are for families who receive Medicaid, which provides health care to people with low incomes, disabilities and the elderly. More than 182,000 New Hampshire residents, 13.4% of the state’s population, receive Medicaid, including 30.1% of children in the state and 64% of residents living in nursing homes, according to federal statistics. An additional 60,000 are included in the Granite Advantage Medicaid expansion program for residents between 19 and 64 who have a household income at or below 138% of the federal poverty guideline, which would be $21,597 for an individual.
Most Medicaid programs in New Hampshire are overseen by DHHS.
Among the House budget provisions affecting health care for low-income state residents:
- A required premium of 5% of income premium for Medicaid recipients above the federal poverty guideline. The premium would apply to households with no children that earn 100% or more of the federal poverty guideline ($15,650 for an individual, modified annual gross income, which includes all income, not just wages) and 255% or more of the federal poverty guideline for families with children (for instance, $67,957 of modified annual gross income for a three-member family). Those who oppose the premium characterize it as an income tax on those who can least afford it.
- An increase to the copay for prescription drugs for Medicaid recipients to $4 from the $1 and $2 most recipients paid. Those who oppose it say that it may seem like a small amount, but isn’t for many families who struggle to buy food or heat their house. Rep. Ken Weyler, R-Kingston, the chair of the House Finance Committee, said the increase will deter people who take advantage of the system by getting medication they don’t need.
- Cuts the Medicaid reimbursement rate by 3%, which means $52.5 million less to providers over the next two years, which will cause reductions in services and some health care providers shutting down, critics of the move have said.
- A $31.4 million reduction in funding for developmental disability services over two years, which would also reduce federal Medicaid matching funds, for a $62.8 million (6.4%) cut that would affect the developmental disability services waitlist for anyone needing increased aid, children aging out of school-based services and individuals with disabilities moving into the state.
- Suspends the WIC farmers market nutrition program, which provided $30 a month to WIC recipients to buy produce at farmers markets.
- Suspends congregate housing services for elderly residents who are eligible for Medicaid, but also increases the amount counties must contribute for long-term care for the elderly, from 2% to 3%, capped at a statewide total of $135.8 million in FY 2026 and $139.9 million in SFY 2027.
- Cuts $37.8 million over two years for community mental health, which would mean cuts in service or elimination of community mental health centers, the Rapid Response Team, and other initiatives to better serve people with mental health challenges, including to Mission Zero, a program that aims to provide mental health services that free up emergency room space used to board people suffering from mental illness.
- Changes to how the Alcohol Abuse Prevention and Treatment Fund is financed that limit the money to opioid-related programs.
- Eliminates the state’s family planning program, a $1.7 million cut, which provides contraception and prenatal services, as well as cancer screening and sexually transmitted disease prevention resources and testing.
- Suspending the State Loan Repayment Program for health care professionals, including dentists, who take jobs in underserved areas for 36 months or more, and in exchange the state pays a portion of their student loans. The program was created to incentivize health care work in areas that don’t have access to providers.
- Eliminating the Tobacco Cessation and Prevention Program, which is designed to reduce the prevalence and consumption of tobacco use, the top cause of preventable death in the state, as well as contributing to a large variety of health issues, including in children who breathe second-hand smoke. According to Quit NH, the state’s initiative to combat the effects of smoking, tobacco use costs New Hampshire $1.5 billion annually both directly and indirectly, including medical costs and lost productivity from illness related to it.
- Eliminating the New Hampshire Commission on Aging, which works to access federal Older American Act funds.
- Eliminating the Prescription Drug Affordability Board, which works to limit prescription drug costs.
- Eliminating four Dept. of Education positions that implement prevention and student wellness programming in schools (these are non-vacant positions).
Ayotte said before the vote that she plans to work with the Senate on getting some of what she proposed back into the budget, including funding for community mental health centers and the waiting list for services for people with developmental disabilities.
Adding to the outlook for Medicaid recipients and health care in New Hampshire is uncertainty about what will happen on the federal level. New Hampshire has a trigger law that, if federal funding for Medicaid drops below 90% of the program’s cost in the state, the Granite Advantage program will be terminated.
Congress is in the midst of considering changes to the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage that would require states to come up with a bigger percentage of their Medicaid share. Some of the proposals in the House budget had that in mind, including a shift to lower-cost medications and services. But the state would still have to come up with millions, which would likely include elimination of Granite Advantage, the expansion that provides Medicaid to more than 60,000 state residents.
Are you ready for your mornings reimagined?
Hi! I’m Garret Doll (like Ken, but less hair and not as handsome), and I’m teaming up with Katie Killourhy for 97.5 WOKQ’s new morning show, Garret & Katie in the Morning!
You ready to join us?
So, Who Is Garret Doll?
I’ve learned something about myself… I don’t like clutter. Unless it’s my clutter. Then it’s not clutter, it’s a system.
That’s probably a pretty accurate starting point for who I am. A little self-aware, a little stubborn, and definitely someone who knows what he likes. I like tacos, steak tips and lobster rolls. (Fun fact: I’ve never had a lobster roll until moving here.)
How It All Started
This whole radio thing started for me when I was 15. My mom helped me land a job at a radio station in my hometown (cause she worked there), and I fell in love with radio. I’ve never left this career.
I’ve spent my entire adult life doing this job, and I still feel like I lucked into the best job in the world. No two days are the same. One minute you’re talking about life, the next you’re playing your favorite songs, then suddenly you’re out in the community meeting people who feel like friends you’ve known forever.
Most of my career took me to places like Denver, Charleston, and Richmond. Now, somehow, it’s brought me here to New Hampshire.
Honestly, I look at it like a “this is exactly where I’m supposed to be” moment. It’s a new start on life, so to speak. You will learn more about that as we get to know each other and you listen to the show on 97.5 WOKQ.
Why WOKQ Matters to Me
WOKQ is one of those stations you hear about in radio. It’s got history. It’s got heart. And it’s built around a community that actually cares about local connection and country music throughout New England.
That matters to me.
I don’t want to just “be on the radio.” I want to be part of what’s happening here. The towns, the events, the random conversations at a bar, the places you tell your friends they have to check out.
That’s the fun part of all of this.
What I’m All About
I’m a pretty simple dude:
I’m the guy who would give you the shirt off my back
Glass half full (even when it probably shouldn’t be)
Always smiling
Authentic… sometimes too authentic
And yeah, there are definitely moments where I say something before thinking it all the way through.
So if you ever hear me and think, “Did he really just say that?” There’s a decent chance the answer is yes.
Some Quick Hits About Me
Coffee order: Americano
Drink Order: Old Fashioned or just a good local beer
Favorite food: Tacos (not even close)
Guilty pleasure show: The Big Bang Theory
Pet peeve: Close talkers… and people who are late
Random fact: I once got a tattoo of Dopey from the Seven Dwarfs because a girl I was dating wanted one. We got them together. (Don’t worry, it’s been covered up by a microphone and a rose… and I haven’t heard from her in about 20 years)
Let’s Do This Together
I’m new to town, which means I could really use your help.
Where’s your go-to spot when you just want to get outside? Best place to hike? Kayak? Local bar? Just disappear for a few hours?
READ MORE: Hidden Gems in New Hampshire: 5 Secret Places Worth Discovering
Drop me your favorites, because if there’s one thing I know, it’s that the best recommendations don’t come from Google… they come from you! The ones who actually live it.
And I’m ready to start exploring and getting to know you. So make sure to tune in to Garret & Katie in the Morning! See you there.
BankNH Pavilion: Summer Show Lineup, 2026
Gallery Credit: Sarah Sullivan
HUDSON, N.H. — An animal cruelty investigation led to the arrest of two former tenants who police say left three cats behind in the apartment they were evicted from.
The Hudson Police Department said officers responded to 19 Oliver Drive on Nov. 25 after the town’s animal control officer received a report that multiple cats had been left behind in an apartment previously occupied by Faith Byers, 48, and Kevin Greene, 57.
The pair had reportedly been evicted a week earlier, on Nov. 18.
Police said that attempts to reach Byers and Greene by phone were unsuccessful, and the property owner later confirmed that the two had moved out without taking the cats or arranging for their care.
With the owner’s permission, police entered the apartment and found three cats alone inside the unoccupied residence.
Police said they determined the cats had been left unattended for several days in conditions lacking adequate airflow, sunlight, litter and consistent access to food or water. Police added that no care plan had been made for the animals, and neither former tenant indicated any intention to return for them.
The animals were safely removed and transported to the Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire in Bedford, where they are now receiving care.
Arrest warrants were issued for Byers and Greene, who are each charged with one count of cruelty to animals, a Class A misdemeanor. They were arrested on Friday and released on personal recognizance bail.
They are scheduled to appear in 9th Circuit Court Nashua District Division at 1 p.m. April 28.
Follow Aaron Curtis on X @aselahcurtis, or on Bluesky @aaronscurtis.bsky.social.
Foreign ministers from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt will meet in Islamabad today in an attempt to come up with a plan to de-escalate the Iran war.
The meeting comes as several thousand more U.S. troops arrived in the region and after another group got involved in the expanding conflict: Yemen’s Houthis.
The Iran-backed Houthis launched missiles towards Israel, and there’s concern their involvement could threaten another vital global shipping lane in the Red Sea.
Here are more updates on day 30 of the Iran war.
Diplomacy Push in Pakistan
The four foreign ministers from regional powers will meet in Islamabad today and Monday for a push towards diplomacy to end the war.
In a statement ahead of the meeting, the Egyptian government said: “Discussions are expected to focus on recent developments related to regional military escalation and ongoing diplomatic efforts to contain tensions and promote de-escalation.”
“The talks come amid heightened concerns about regional stability, with participating countries seeking to coordinate their stances and support political solutions to emerging crises,” it added.
Whether whatever consensus the countries known as “the quad” come up with will be accepted by the US, Israel, and Iran is another question.
Pakistan has emerged as a possible peace-broker in the conflict, passing messages between the U.S. and Tehran. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Saturday that “dialogue, diplomacy, and such confidence-building measures are the only way forward.”
Dar also welcomed the fact Iran has agreed to allow 20 Pakistan-flagged ships – or two a day – through the Strait of Hormuz.
Houthis enter war
Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen launched the first missile they have fired since the war began toward Israel on Saturday. Israel’s military successfully intercepted it but the Houthis’ attack opens another front in a war that has now moved into its second month.
Up until Saturday’s missile launch the Houthis had stayed out of this war. But a Houthi spokesman said attacks will continue until “the aggression on all resistance fronts stops.”
Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs / AP
/
AP
The Yemen-based rebels were active during Israel’s war in Gaza, firing on cargo ships in the Red Sea and disrupting global commercial traffic.
With Iran essentially blockading the Strait of Hormuz, driving up global oil prices, there are concerns that if the Houthis start attacking ships in the Red Sea again global shipping will be even more disrupted.
Iran also hit multiple sites around Tel Aviv and Jerusalem Saturday and Israel’s military says Iran is increasingly using cluster bombs.
Designed to detonate at high altitude the munition disperses dozens of smaller bombs that are more challenging for Israel’s multi-layered air defense system to intercept and can cause damage over a wider area.
Dozens of countries have signed onto a cluster munitions treaty banning the weapons – except Iran, Israel and the U.S.
Iran threatens U.S. universities in region
Iranian authorities and residents say more airstrikes hit them overnight. Social media videos from across Iran showed strikes hitting all over the country.
Israel’s military said it had completed what it called a wide-scale wave of strikes targeting weapons production and storage sites.
Iran claims U.S.-Israeli strikes hit a Tehran university over the weekend and Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps threatened American university campuses in the Middle East in retaliation.
“We advise all employees, professors, and students of American universities in the region and residents of their surrounding areas” to stay a kilometer away from campuses, the statement, carried by Iranian media, said.
Several US universities have campuses in the Gulf, including New York University in the United Arab Emirates and Texas A&M University, among others, in Qatar.
Meanwhile, Iran continues to fire drones and missiles at Gulf countries, with Kuwait saying it was intercepting missile and drone attacks early Sunday. Saudi Arabia said it intercepted and destroyed ten drones.
Iran also claimed it had attacked two major aluminium sites in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Emirates Global Aluminium confirmed an Iranian attack wounded several and caused significant damage to its plant.
U.S. Troops injured, more arrive
At least 15 U.S. service members were wounded Friday in an Iranian strike on a Saudi air base that hosts American troops, according to the Associated Press, including at least five in serious condition. The missile and drone strikes targeted Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan air base, located outside the capital Riyadh.
Iran has targeted U.S. service members at bases throughout the region since the war began a month ago, in retaliation for the U.S. attacks and seeking to drive troops out of the region. Overall, the Pentagon has put the U.S. casualty toll at 13 killed and more than 300 injured.
On Saturday, troops from the Japan-based 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, made up of around 3,500 sailors and Marines, arrived in the Middle East, according to U.S. Central Command.
The U.S. military will not say where and how they might be deployed. Thousands more soldiers from the U.S. military’s 82nd Airborne Division are also expected to be deployed.
Journalists killed in Lebanon
Three Lebanese journalists covering the Israeli invasion of the country’s south were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Jezzine.
One of them worked for a TV channel affiliated with Hezbollah and Israel accuses him of being a militant rather than a journalist – but has not provided evidence. The journalist Israel says it targeted was Ali Shaeb, a veteran TV correspondent and household name in Lebanon. After killing him, Israel’s military issued a statement accusing him of exposing the locations of Israeli troops.
The other two journalists killed were siblings, TV correspondent Fatima Ftouni and her cameraman brother, Mohammed Ftouni. Afterward their father appeared on TV, saying he was proud of his children.
All three had been covering Israel’s invasion of southern Lebanon.
Lebanese officials called the attack a flagrant violation of international law, and said they’re complaining to the UN Security Council. Hundreds of fellow journalists marched at a protest vigil in Lebanon’s capital.
The three journalists were among at least 47 people killed Saturday in Israeli attacks, according to Lebanese health officials.
Nine of those killed were paramedics, which the head of the World Health Organization called “a tragedy,” noting health workers are protected under international law.
Israel has intensified its attacks across Lebanon, mostly in the South, where Israeli ground troops are moving northward to try to oust Hezbollah militants.
Another Israeli soldier was also killed in Lebanon, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressing his condolences on X over the weekend.
Developments in Syria, Iraq
The war is spreading to more parts of the Middle East. On Sunday, Syria said it had intercepted a drone strike from Iraq targeting a U.S. military base. Pro-Iran Iraqi groups have claimed responsibility for some attacks on US interests.
Separately, the Syrian and UAE governments condemned an attack targeting the residence of the Kurdish region’s president Nechirvan Barzani.
French President Emmanuel Macron also condemned the attack saying: “The sovereignty of Iraq, and of Kurdistan within it, is essential to regional stability. Everything must be done to prevent Iraq from being drawn into the ongoing escalation.”
On Sunday, the Israeli army said it had launched its “first” attack into Lebanon from Syria.
Jane Arraf in Amman, Emily Feng in Van, Turkey, Lauren Frayer in Jezzine, Lebanon, Carrie Khan in Tel Aviv, and Kate Bartlett in Johannesburg contributed to this report.
Copyright 2026 NPR
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