State expands coverage for mental health, substance use disorders

CONCORD — The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services announces that it has received federal approval for a five-year extension of its Section 1115(a) Demonstration (“1115a Waiver”). This federal authority will strengthen the ability of Granite Staters to access key and affordable mental health and substance use treatment services when, where and how they most need them.

Approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the “Substance Use Disorder, Serious Mental Illness and Serious Emotional Disturbance, Treatment Recovery and Access” 1115a waiver will enable the Department of Health to use innovative approaches to deliver services covered by Medicaid. It will allow greater access to substance use disorder and mental health services, reduce overdose deaths and emergency department boarding and increase care coordination for people in residential treatment facilities who are returning to their home communities. The approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services aligns with and supports the work of the Department of Health  Roadmap 2024-2025, which guides the department’s work to advance key priorities during the State fiscal year.