HB 636-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2025 SESSION
25-0697
05/09
HOUSE BILL 636-FN
AN ACT relative to community mental health providers.
SPONSORS: Rep. Lloyd, Hills. 8; Rep. Elberger, Hills. 5; Rep. Gregg, Hills. 7
COMMITTEE: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs
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ANALYSIS
This bill permits community mental health providers to provide services independently from community mental health programs. The bill directs the department of health and human services to adopt rules regarding program eligibility and compliance.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
25-0697
05/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT relative to community mental health providers.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Community Mental Health Programs. Amend RSA 135-C:7 to read as follows:
135-C:7 Community Mental Health Programs. Any city, county, town, [or] nonprofit corporation, or other organization that provides clinical mental health services may establish and administer a community mental health program for the purpose of providing mental health services to individuals and organizations in the area. Every program shall, at a minimum, provide emergency, medical or [psychiatric] psychological screening and evaluation, case management, and psychotherapy services. The department may contract with a community mental health program, pursuant to RSA 135-C:3, for the operation and administration of any services which are part of the state mental health services system. In the event that the commissioner decides to enter into a contract for the operation and administration of any services which are part of the state mental health services system, the contract shall contain standards designed to measure the performance of the contractor in achieving positive consumer outcomes, maintaining fiscal integrity, and providing quality services.
2 New Section; Community Mental Health Providers. Amend RSA 135-C by inserting after section 7 the following new section:
135-C:7-a Community Mental Health Providers.
I. In this chapter, "community mental health provider" means a Medicaid provider or organization that provides clinical mental health services, employs licensed mental health practitioners, provides clinical supervision of its staff, and assumes professional, ethical, and legal responsibility for such mental health services.
II. The department shall permit community mental health providers to administer community mental health services independently from community mental health programs. Community mental health providers shall be authorized to provide, and shall be reimbursed for, Medicaid funded community mental health services when such services are determined to be medically necessary by a licensed mental health professional, physician, or psychiatric advanced nurse practitioner. The commissioner shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A relative to community mental health provider eligibility and program compliance.
3 New Subparagraph; Eligibility of Programs. Amend RSA 135-C:10, I by inserting after subparagraph (c) the following new subparagraph:
(d) Services provided through community mental health providers pursuant to RSA 135-C:7-a.
4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
25-0697
1/8/25
HB 636-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT relative to community mental health providers.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Office of Legislative Budget Assistant is unable to complete a fiscal note for this bill as it is awaiting information from the Department of Health and Human Services. The Department was contacted on 12/13/24 for a fiscal note worksheet. When completed, the fiscal note will be forwarded to the House Clerk's Office.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Health and Human Services
Jan. 16, 2025: Introduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs HJ 3