The House Finance Division III of the New Hampshire Legislature convened on May 20, 2025, to discuss significant amendments to Senate Bill 118, focusing on funding for personal needs allowances in nursing homes and employee compensation related to the Hampstead facility.

Nathan White, the chief financial officer with the Department of Health and Human Services, presented key components of the bill. One major change proposed is to adjust the personal needs allowance for residents in private and county nursing homes from every five years to annually. This adjustment would provide approximately $75 to $80 per eligible Medicaid recipient for personal items, resulting in an estimated annual increase of $50,000 in funding.

Additionally, the discussion included the Hampstead facility, which the state purchased in June 2022. White explained that after a transition period involving a contractor, the state entered into a contract with Dartmouth to manage clinical services. This transition led to complications for some employees, including four who missed out on annual bonuses and several dozen who lost accrued leave due to the changes in employment status. The proposed appropriation in the bill aims to compensate these employees with one-time payments to rectify the situation.

The meeting underscored the state's commitment to supporting both nursing home residents and employees affected by the transition at Hampstead, highlighting the ongoing adjustments in health and human services funding in New Hampshire.