NH House Passes SB 5-FN, to Expand Access to Mental Health Services and Substance Use Disorder Treat

May 8, 2018

Contact Name: Sara Persechino

Phone: (603) 271-3479

Email: Sara.Persechino@leg.state.nh.us

CONCORD—Today, the New Hampshire House of Representatives passed SB 5-FN-A, relative to making an appropriation relative to Medicaid provider rates for mental health and substance misuse, 207-130. The Senate passed SB 5 unanimously in February.

Prime sponsor Senator Cindy Rosenwald (D-Nashua) released the following statement after the vote:

“New Hampshire’s Medicaid Expansion program continues to be one of the best tools we have to combat the ongoing opioid and mental health crises in our state. Medicaid is an important part of New Hampshire’s 10-Year Mental Health Plan, but we need to raise reimbursement rates to help provider sustainability.

“SB 5-FN fulfills the bipartisan compromise reached in 2018 on Medicaid expansion, SB 313-FN, by leveraging federal dollars as part of a 93/7 match to increase reimbursement rates for Medicaid providers for mental health services and substance use disorder treatment. Today’s House vote is an important step to increase access to these services and ensure that New Hampshire providers can afford to provide the critical health services citizens in our state need and deserve.”