Senate Health and Human Services Passes Legislation to Support Mental Health Workforce
Contact Name: Marina Altschiller
Phone: (603) 271-3207
CONCORD – Today, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee unanimously voted Ought to Pass with Amendment on HB 143. The amendment, developed through the bipartisan work of a variety of stakeholders, begins the critical work needed to build a mental health workforce pipeline.
After the vote, amendment co-sponsor Senator Becky Whitley (D-Hopkinton) issued the following statement:
“Addressing New Hampshire’s mental health and substance use disorder crisis is complicated and requires a multi-pronged solution. Over the past several years, bipartisan efforts have helped infuse the needed resources to build the community-based system of care, enhancing critical elements such as mobile crisis and transitional housing. The goal of the amendment passed in committee today is to help build a mental health workforce pipeline by creating a pathway for professional advancement in the mental health field and lay the foundation for sufficient reimbursement for a comprehensive array of services, delivered by a variety of qualified professionals, in New Hampshire's behavioral health system. Specifically, the amendment adds an associate and bachelor’s level social work credential, as well as a new category for conditional licensure, and includes policy for facility credentialing by health insurance carriers whenever possible. While there is no singular solution to the larger problem, this small but critical policy change is an important step forward in addressing New Hampshire’s mental health workforce challenges.”
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