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Coverage for Children's Behavioral Health Care Coordination

TAKE ACTIONCoverage for Children's Behavioral Health Care Coordination

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Enhanced care coordination, or "wraparound", is an integral part of the Children's System of Care for behavioral and mental health's Tier 3 Intensive, Community-Based Services. Wraparound is New Hampshire's version of a proven youth- and family-centered planning and care coordination process, but it is not covered by private insurance carrier, meaning many families face significant barriers or may not be able to access these critical services.

New Hampshire must ensure all families can access the care they need, regardless of their insurance type.

Learn More about Wraparound Programs

Wraparound is New Hampshire's version of a proven youth- and family-centered planning and care coordination process.1 There are three distinct wraparound programs:

These programs are designed for families who have tried less intensive treatments and/or have complex situations requiring them to be involved in more than one “system” (e.g. special education, mental health, child protection, and juvenile justice).

Wraparound helps families identify their strengths and needs. It then brings together a team of professionals (including other family members and service providers) to develop and support the family’s plan so the child can remain at home.

Enhanced care coordination programs have empowered hundreds of families facing behavioral health challenges as they navigate complex systems. However, a private insurance coverage gap has created barriers for Granite State families and cost taxpayer dollars unnecessarily.

About the Bill

Right now in New Hampshire, Medicaid covers enhanced care coordination (wraparound) services for children's mental health, but private insurance doesn't. This means:
 
  1. Some children with private insurance may be able to qualify for Medicaid through a special program, but not until their mental health challenges become severe.
  2. Taxpayer money is being used to cover these services.
Senate Bill 128 would require private insurance companies to help pay for these mental health services, creating a partnership between public and private insurers. This would help all New Hampshire children get the care they need, no matter what type of insurance they have.

Take Action

Call Budget Negotiators (Script Provided)

A phone call is the most effective way to contact a legislator! You can call all of these legislators, or choose one or two, perhaps your own (look up your State Senator and Representative(s) here) or one who lives nearest to you. While serving on committees, legislators represent the entire state's interests, not just those of their own constituents.

State Budget Committee of Conference Members:
  • Rep. Jose Cambrils (R-Loudon): 603-731-8287
  • Rep. Dan McGuire (R-Epsom): 603-782-4918
  • Rep. Joe Sweeney (R-Salem): 603-327-7184
  • Rep. Mary Jane Wallner (D-Concord): 603-225-5249
  • Rep. Kenneth Weyler (R-Kingston): 603-642-3518
  • Sen. Sharon Carson (R-Londonderry): 603-271-3266 (State House)
  • Sen. James Gray (R-Rochester): 603-271-4980 (State House)
  • Sen. Cindy Rosenwald (D-Nashua): 603-271-3207 (State House)

State Senators share offices and staffers with other Senators, so if you're calling their State House number, please mention the Senator's name. If you call outside of State House hours, you may leave a message with the State Senator's name, your name, your town, your phone number, and personal remarks.

State Representatives do not have offices at the State House, so the numbers listed may be their home or mobile numbers. Please keep the time in mind when you call.

Many advocates find it helpful to prepare before making a call. Please find a sample script below.

Hi, I'm calling for [Senator/Representative Last Name]. My name is [First and Last Name] and I'm from [City/Town]. 

I am calling to strongly urge lawmakers to preserve the language from Senate Bill 128 in the final version of the state budget.

Choose a few of the suggested points below:

  • I appreciate your service to New Hampshire.
  • Share a personal story about how your family or those you work with have struggled to coordinate and access approproate care for children or teens people with intense behavioral health needs.
  • Enhanced care coordination, or "wraparound," is important because
    • ...While Medicaid covers wraparound, it is unfortunately not covered by private insurance carriers, meaning many families face significant barriers or may not be able to access these critical services.
    • ...it's an empowering program for families navigating complex systems while caring for a child with intensive behavioral health needs.
    • ...it helps families identify their strengths and needs.
    • ...it brings together a team of professionals (including other family members and service providers) to develop and support the family’s plan so the child can remain at home and avoid more costly interventions.
  • I am aware that a House rule has been seen as an obstacle to including this language, but this rule can be reversed, and has been in the past. Making sure New Hampshire kids are able to access needed mental health care is a very valid reason to drop this rule.
  • In some cases, taxpayer money is currently being unnecessarily used to cover wraparound services.
  • This policy would require private insurance companies to help pay for these mental health services, creating a partnership between public and private insurers.
  • This policy would help all New Hampshire children get the care they need, no matter what type of insurance they have.
  • Thank you for your time. I strongly urge [him/her] to retain the language from SB 128 in the final version of the state budget.

Easy Action Form: Email Lawmakers

Share Your Story

Will you share your experience to help support insurance coverage for enhanced care coordination in NH? Stories are powerful tools that can be shared with lawmakers and the public to influence policy change. New Futures can help you develop effective ways to share your story. 

  • Have you, a loved one, a client/patient, etc. either benefitted from or struggled to access youth behavioral/mental health care?
  • Do you have experience with enhanced care coordination, or "wraparound", also known as FAST (Families and Systems Together) Forward, early childhood wraparound, or Transitional Enhanced Care Coordination (TrECC)?

Spread the Word: Fact Sheet

Download and share our one-pager!

Spread the Word: Social Media

Check out our social media channels and share our latest posts about Senate Bill 128!

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Bill Status

February 10: The Senate Health and Human Services Committee held a public hearing on Senate Bill 128. You can read the committee report here. 179 people signed in to support the bill, 6 people signed in to oppose, and 3 were neutral.

February 19: The Senate Health and Human Services Committee recommended 5-0 that the full Senate pass the bill.

March 6: The NH State Senate passed the bill as part of their consent calendar (where less controversial bills are voted on together by voice vote).

March 11: As the bill involves state finances, (signified by FN for "fiscal note" after the bill number), it was considered next by the Senate Finance Committee. They recommended unanimously that the full Senate pass the bill.

March 20: The bill was unanimously approved on the Senate floor, then tabled for possible inclusion in the Senate’s version of the NH state budget.

May 23: The Senate Finance Committee voted unanimously to include this policy in their version of the state budget.

June 5: The entire Senate voted to include the language of SB 128 in their budget proposal. The House then voted to non-concur, meaning they don't agree to all the changes the Senate made to the budget bills. A Committee of Conference was formed so delegates from the Senate and the House could work through their disagreements and make compromises.

Next: Committee of Conference members are in the process of working through their disagreements and making compromises. Please take action above to ask them to include the language from Senate Bill 128.

You can learn more about how New Hampshire's legislative process works on our About the Legislature webpage, or take one of our advocacy trainings.

Your contribution to New Futures will leave a lasting impact in the Granite State!

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