New Hampshire's 10 counties are waiting for a judge to decide if they must follow a new state law that requires them to take over the state's share of long-term care services for poor, frail elders.
The lawsuit won't be heard until mid-winter, but some House members have already crafted an insurance plan - legislation that would remove the counties from the nursing home business, leaving the state with the bill.
The move is the latest development in a complicated debate that's spanned nearly a decade. At issue is how New Hampshire should subsidize elder care for the thousands of poor seniors living in nursing homes or receiving health care services in their communities.
