Protect Mental Health in the NH State Budget

The Committee of Conference on HB 1 & HB 2, the NH State Budget, has concluded its work and finalized a new version of the budget that will be voted on by the bodies on Thursday, 6/26.

Thanks to the strength of mental health advocates, we achieved great successes in reversing harmful elements of the House version of the budget, eliminating drastic cuts to Medicaid provider rates and returning funding to community mental health programs. This funding is integral to ensuring that NH’s ten community mental health centers will be able to continue to provide services to all Granite Staters. Further, crucial policies to support maternal mental health from SB 246, also known as Momnibus 2.0, were maintained from the Senate version of the budget. These accomplishments were only possible thanks to the outstanding advocacy of Granite Staters.

Though this final version of the budget includes funding for our mental health system, it does not incorporate policies to bolster the mental health system by ensuring long-term financial stability for 988 call centers and FAST Forward wraparound services. Though the work of NH 988 and FAST Forward wraparound is funded in this budget and will continue, these policies presented a proactive opportunity to ensure stable funding in the coming biennia and respond to increasing demand. Rather, this budget takes a step in the wrong direction by adopting policies to implement premiums, increase medication copayments, and create work requirements for Medicaid enrollees, all of which will limit access to care.

We are disappointed with this budget, which will lead to some individuals and families losing their health care coverage and access. While this is not the outcome we hoped for, we cannot lose sight of the ground we have made and the strength of our work. Throughout the session, mental health has been in the spotlight, and it is clear that our voices are being heard across the state.