CONCORD – The state got a $128 million discount from its Medicaid providers due to fewer folks going to the doctor during COVID-19, but Executive Councilor Ted Gatsas would have liked to see more of a discount.

“Can I go with you the next time you negotiate with them?” asked Gatsas, R-Manchester, to Henry Lipman, the state’s Medicaid director.

At the Governor and Executive Council meeting Friday, Gatsas repeatedly asked Lipman where the companies started their negotiations in dollar reductions but Lipman said he didn’t have a specific number to provide.

While Gatsas opposed, the council voted to authorize and enter into retroactive contracts with three existing companies: AmeriHealth Caritas NH Inc. of Philadelphia, Boston Medical Center Health Plans Inc. of Charlestown, Mass., and Granite State Health Plan Inc. of Bedford, which was originally approved in 2019 to provide health care services to eligible and enrolled Medicaid participants through the state’s NH Medicaid Care Management program.

The deal decreases by $128,374,314 the contract from $2,177,614,370 to $2,049,240,056 with no change in the completion date, which is Aug. 31, 2024.

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Edelblut Raise

Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut will earn $115,661 this year, up from his current pay of $109,305 after council approval. Councilor Cinde Warmington, D-Concord, opposed the raise.

Edelblut also gave an update on lead removal from drinking water in schools as the council accepted a $1.6 million grant from the state Department of Environmental Services.

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Exit 4A

Victoria Sheehan, the commissioner for the Department of Transportation, gave the new council an update on the progress on the development of Exit 4A on I-93 in Derry and Londonderry.

Officials said the bids are out and they would expect an update to the council in two months.

On Sept. 18, 2020, the department opened proposals for the project to construct the area and the lowest price of the three proposals exceeded the department’s cost estimate and the project construction budget by more than $30 million.

Sheehan said the state is going forward with its own design-build and she does not believe it will be as costly as the bids opened in September.

The department is working with Derry and Londonderry, as well as affected property owners, to determine the next steps in the process.

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Office of Outdoor Recreation

After months of trying to get a new division off the ground to support the development of the state’s outdoor tourism economy, the council approved a federal grant to establish the Office of Outdoor Recreation and Industry Development within the state Department of Business and Economic Affairs.

The Northern Borders Regional Commission allocated $391,666 which is contingent upon legislative Fiscal Committee approval.

Taylor Caswell, the commissioner, said there is finally a way to get this office off the ground.

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DMV Reopening

While COVID-19 forced closures, the state is moving toward the total reopening of the Department of Motor Vehicle offices in February.

Elizabeth A. Bielecki, the director said the department is moving toward more online services for appointments at https://www.nh.gov/safety/divisions/dmv/appointment/index.htm.

She said people don’t have to take off a day from work to go to the DMV, rather they should be in and out in 15 minutes.

There is also a concerted effort to connect with other states online, she said, and currently more than 30 are connected with New Hampshire.

The state has 15 DMV sites and current information can be found here https://www.nh.gov/safety/divisions/dmv/locations/.

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