On Thursday, August 18, Axios hosted an Expert Voices roundtable discussion in Manchester, New Hampshire featuring local health care leaders, policymakers and medical experts. Guests offered their perspectives on combating barriers to health care access and proposed solutions for bridging equity gaps. Axios’s senior health care editor Adriel Bettelheim led the conversation.
How local policymakers are thinking about tackling a potential jump in the state’s uninsured rate, as a redetermination of Medicaid eligibility could be postponed.
State Rep. Mark Pearson speaking to fellow attendees. Photo: Stephen Duarte/Axios
Sen. Tom Sherman, a New Hampshire state senator and Democratic candidate for governor, said that Medicaid expansion is up for reauthorization in the next legislative session, but there is no guarantee that local lawmakers will reauthorize it.
Rep. Mark Pearson, a Republican member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives and chair of the Health & Human Services Committee, said both sides would need to work together and compromise in order to secure bipartisan action in the legislature on this issue.
Experts weigh in on the social and economic disparities in health care that were heightened over the last two years and the danger of ‘moving on’ from the pandemic.
Dr. Trinidad Tellez speaking to the Axios roundtable group. Photo: Stephen Duarte/Axios
Dr. Trinidad Tellez, principal at [Health] Equity Strategies, expressed concern about the rate of new COVID-19 infections in Manchester and the disproportionate impact on communities of color.
Pamela Preston, associate professor at St. Anselm College, said she agrees with Dr. Tellez.
Dr. Marie-Elizabeth Ramas, regional medical director at GateHouse Treatment Center, said combating medical misinformation continues to be an obstacle when it comes to bridging equity gaps in health care.
Guests respond to obstacles stopping Medicaid recipients from receiving dental benefits.
Jessica Margeson, project outreach coordinator at 603 Legal Aid, said she hopes more dentists come to practice in New Hampshire and accept Medicaid coverage.
Tom Raffio, president & CEO of Northeast Delta Dental, delivered opening remarks at the event, and spoke about their mission to expand dental coverage to as many Americans as possible and to address other social determinants.
Thank you Delta Dental for sponsoring this event.
Read the original article here: https://www.axios.com/2022/08/23/axios-events-healthcarevitalsnh