New Medicaid Substance Use Disorder Benefits Expand State’s Capacity

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DHHS Public Information Office

July 1, 2016                                  603-271-9388

Concord, NH – Beginning on July 1, all Medicaid recipients will have access to critical substance misuse prevention, treatment, and recovery services.

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will provide coverage for substance use disorder (SUD) to more than 140,000 participants in the New Hampshire Medicaid program, ensuring access to the same SUD benefits available to the nearly 49,000 individuals enrolled in the New Hampshire Health Protection Program.

“Increasing access to substance misuse treatment services is a critical part of our comprehensive approach as we continue working to combat the heroin and opioid crisis,” Gov. Maggie Hassan said.

“Last year, we worked together across party lines to reauthorize our bipartisan New Hampshire Health Protection Program, which has provided substance misuse and behavioral health services to thousands of Granite Staters, and today, we take the important step to extend that same critical coverage to our traditional Medicaid population as well.”

“Beginning July 1st, more than 140,000 Standard Medicaid recipients will be newly eligible to receive addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery services,” said DHHS Commissioner Jeffrey A. Meyers. “The Department is grateful to the Governor and the Legislature for their bipartisan support for extending the benefit for all Medicaid recipients. As the State continues to provide additional resources and expand treatment capacity, this is an important milestone in New Hampshire’s response to the opioid addiction crisis.”

Medicaid recipients in the State’s fee-for-service plan or enrolled with either New Hampshire Healthy Families or the Well Sense Health Plan will be eligible on and after July 1, 2016 for a comprehensive SUD benefit.

Standard Medicaid recipients will be able to access comprehensive SUD services, including assessment, outpatient services, residential treatment, opioid treatment programs, recovery support services, and recovery monitoring. There are six SUD provider types and four existing Medicaid provider types that are able to provide SUD services. The rates for these services are the same as those offered under the New Hampshire Health Protection Program’s Alternative Benefit Plan.

Standard Medicaid recipients received a letter from DHHS in early June, 2016 announcing their added SUD benefit. Standard Medicaid recipients with questions can call the following Client Service Centers for answers to their questions about the available SUD services or for assistance in finding a SUD provider:

Residents who are not Medicaid recipients and have questions about eligibility requirements can also visitwww.dhhs.nh.gov/dfa/medical/ and find out how to apply for NH Medicaid.

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