NH Receives Federal Aid for Opioid Crisis

The NH Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in Concord received a $150 million waiver from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in Maryland to transform the state’s behavioral health delivery system, specifically regarding the current opioid crisis.

Under the waiver, CMS will provide NH with up to $30 million in funding annually for five years. The payments will go to networks of health care and social service providers that will be formed across the state. 

Through these regional networks, NH will transform its behavioral health delivery system by: 

• Expanding provider capacity to address behavioral health needs;
  
  
• Integrating physical and behavioral health to better address the full range of beneficiaries’ needs;
  
  
• Reducing gaps in care during transitions,  from treatment back into the community through improved care coordination for individuals with behavioral health issues.

“The opioid crisis and our strained behavioral health system are urgent challenges facing our state,” says Jeffrey Meyers, commissioner of DHHS. “The demand for substance abuse and mental health services is increasing and it is vital that New Hampshire leverage this opportunity to expand our capacity to address it and improve the care we provide. This waiver will enable us to begin to move resources out to providers this year so that we further our current efforts.”

Beginning on March 4, DHHS will hold nine public informational sessions about the transformation waiver throughout the state:

• March 4, 2 .pm.-4 p.m., NH Department of Environmental Services auditorium, 29 Hazen Drive, Concord

• March 7, 6 p.m.-8 p.m., Historical Society of Cheshire County, 246 Main St., Keene

• March 9, 6 p.m.-8 p.m., Manchester City Hall, Alderman chambers (third floor), One City Hall Plaza, Manchester

• March 10, 6 p.m.-8 p.m., NH Veteran’s Home, 139 Winter St., Tilton

• March 14, 6 p.m.-8 p.m., White Mountains Community College, 2020 Riverside Drive, Berlin

• March 15, 6 p.m.-8 p.m., Nashua Community College, Room 150, 505 Amherst St., Nashua

• March 16, 6 p.m.-8 p.m., City Library Levenson Community Meeting Room, Portsmouth Public Library, 175 Parrott Ave., Portsmouth

• March 17, 6 p.m.-8 p.m., Littleton Regional Healthcare, Taylor Caswell Conference Center, 600 St Johnsbury Road, Littleton

• Date and location pending for Meredith.