Healthy Families

	Clif supported an HMO Accountability Act, including creation of a right to appeal HMO denied coverage to an independent panel of medical experts with overrule power.
	Clif was instrumental in creating new dedicated state support for prevention and treatment of alcohol and drug abuse. He crafted the amendment in committee that became the basis for passing SB 153, requiring half of the growth in future profits from liquor sales (up to 5% of total sales) to be dedicated to prevention and treatment. NH leads the nation in our budgetary reliance on alcohol sales, yet spends less than half the national average for treatment & prevention. SB 153 will be an investment in the future to help prevent and treat costly addictions. See www.newfutures.unh.edu on this subject.
	Clif's response to a question from Janet Krumm, Editor, The NH Challenge, www.nhchallenge.org, a statewide quarterly newspaper for families who have members with disabilities:

From: NH State Senator Clifton Below (District 5, D-Lebanon

Yes, if re-elected I would support legislation to change the state's Medicaid program to allow persons with disabilities to earn more without losing their benefits. I am personally aware of the frustration and irony of the current system in which many people would like to work more, but if they do, they lose the support that enables them to work. I am aware of this because my wife has worked for many years in our community mental health agency, including as a vocational specialist with people with persistent major mental illness. She worked with many individuals who were able and willing to work more, sometime with necessary accommodations, but often couldn't, because they would have lost their Medicaid benefits, such as for very expensive prescriptions that enable them to manage and function successfully with their brain disorder or mental illness.

One of the impediments to making such policy improvements has been the fear that it might cost the state more. In the long run it only makes sense, but in the short term we need to reform our state's revenue structure so that we can afford to fund appropriate services to help people realize their potential to be functioning, contributing, creative and growing members of their communities. I advocate replacing the property tax as the primary source of funding for education with a personal income tax based on ability to pay. Such a plan would cut property taxes and allow recently enacted increases in other taxes to be returned to the general fund (or repealed). This would put the general fund on sounder footing and allow us to meet our responsibilities for health and human services. In contrast, my opponent's school funding plan would greatly stress and strain the general fund.

Home Announcement Background Contribute Contact Us Links