[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6623110,"mediaKeyId","2776936-22f03325682b9173dd7b6afdf1c8be58","parentId",2776936,"title","Committee reestablishes study commission on behavioral crisis services for individuals with intellectual disability","audioSeconds",200,"startMs",4370000,"endMs",4570000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2776936-22f03325682b9173dd7b6afdf1c8be58&start=4370&end=4570","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2776936-22f03325682b9173dd7b6afdf1c8be58/thumbnail_4370000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6623110/New-Hampshire/Committee-reestablishes-study-commission-on-behavioral-crisis-services-for-individuals-with-intellectual-disability","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6623110-dbc7b77221419ef4484d84130ac03aa0/orig.mp4?Expires=1775861964&Signature=VWLz28yJ9EoU3VNxCR7ZAMfNopFom9REu66DJ-jEaoJ9gSuGSnP9Bb2X4W2ppelG1MG80pb29BItnQ8Q9bCZFRrXRmAPTuJ3qnBPUAfYRLseRcTDm5Y9B0wMHN-WhO8a~HZxIeC0mJVIlBf7FlPKOpTdegGyjz5wjZBHQPe9fpJdivTZw2HefdENXrF8WloKzXv1zG~6LNGePH0ycguitv9VtTAJmfn1~peKcho~8hnD1~PLmn6OrAg2Gy~h4fDaJxae38uHFfAghxVQIHiGpv9aXtzAkOhOWKrHuPB5E0sb-Cgan~vzOmVKVqQX5NutTnZVr3dITNAt9G1l3cIPqQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Hampshire Legislature","date","2025-03-26T15:06:32.937Z","article","Representative J.D. Bernardi introduced House Bill 370 to reestablish a commission to study delivery of behavioral crisis services to individuals whose primary impairment is intellectual disability. Bernardi said the issue stems from statutory definitions of mental illness that exclude impairments primarily caused by intellectual disability, epilepsy, or intoxication, which can leave some individuals without timely access to appropriate crisis services.

Bernardi told the committee hospitals commonly lack appropriate staff or services for these episodes and that individuals are sometimes held in hospitals for three to four weeks without treatment. The previous statutory commission was created to develop solutions, but Bernardi said gubernatorial appointments were delayed and some members were never named, which prevented the commission from completing timely recommendations. The bill reestablishes the commission to ensure work is completed and practical legislative proposals are available.

No substantive testimony opposing the idea was presented during the hearing; Bernardi said the prior commission convened too late to deliver recommendations in the prior session and that reestablishment would allow the group to meet and return findings to the legislature.

The committee moved the bill into executive session and later passed it on consent to advance the commission reestablishment.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Health and Human Services (03/26/2025)","oneSentenceSummary","House Bill 370 would reestablish a commission to study delivery of behavioral crisis services for people whose primary impairment is intellectual disability; sponsor said previous commission appointments were delayed and the reestablishment is meant to produce timely recommendations.","taxTitle","Health and Human Services, Senate , Committees\t, Legislative, New Hampshire","taxId",29510,"location","New Hampshire","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6623115,"Panel hears bill to ease refill rules for certain injectable testosterone prescriptions",327,3643000,3970000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2776936-22f03325682b9173dd7b6afdf1c8be58&start=3643&end=3970","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2776936-22f03325682b9173dd7b6afdf1c8be58/thumbnail_3643000.jpg","/articles/6623115/New-Hampshire/Panel-hears-bill-to-ease-refill-rules-for-certain-injectable-testosterone-prescriptions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6623115-a47c580d2edf705a352641c4696be795/orig.mp4?Expires=1775861964&Signature=G4gwtpUwHIu~OfPA5awDV8olYWDtbIKXr~PdFk1ZV9OgcNEEJaTcesJRqEG7B5STxvBiVkqV0kBgQEo-A352U3DICEy5BRrDNBSL3lp3na70Zd6M2Dd1N8wjsEVn83qB6QtRUyFPooeRzO3AdkL21GbOwq6xstKQhhXlWrT8kGO2jneTl7E9XjXnThr4eMBUI7sLtdaaulXmMBviWRbiYEJyGQgWtOzRa5n82tdsOvI3FS58so2HPZVGOWspnFKu2JE5Be~9XewJqMvnSWriyYDlqQ8URQx~DolKYpcniM1X7GvA~iMYy1Y2JSAQrOop5stqpiKDQFAe3HhqsFCU9g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Popovici Mueller introduced House Bill 126, a bipartisan measure intended to reduce the burden on patients who receive injectable androgen prescriptions that are federally scheduled. The bill would add a provision to the Controlled Drug Act permitting a 92‑day supply after a patient has previously filled 12 monthly prescriptions from the same medical practice over a one‑year period; the prescription would need to include a prescriber statement that the medication treats chronic low testosterone.

The sponsor told the committee the one‑year period was a compromise to address concerns about diversion; the intent is to allow providers who have established a sustained treatment relationship to reduce the logistical and financial burden of monthly in‑person pharmacy visits. Representative Popovici Mueller said the bill was intended to strike a balance between access and safeguards: the prescriber’s attestation and the 12‑month history would reduce the risk of misuse while lowering patient burden.

Committee members questioned which party—prescriber or pharmacist—would bear the compliance obligation for the attestation language. The sponsor said the attestation is intended to appear on the written prescription itself so pharmacists would not need to independently confirm compliance; the sponsor characterized the practical responsibility as primarily on the prescriber and the patient.

Lawmakers discussed whether a broader change to the statutory 34‑day supply standard for controlled substances would be preferable. The sponsor said he supported further study of the underlying 34‑day rule but brought the narrower bill forward as an incremental, bipartisan improvement for this medication class. No committee vote on HB126 occurred during the hearing.","House Bill 126 would allow some patients who have demonstrated consistent use to receive 92‑day supplies of certain injectable androgen prescriptions after a 12‑month period of monthly fills, reducing travel and prescription costs for patients, while adding a prescriber attestation as a safeguard.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6623120,"Committee hears bill to define and authorize harm‑reduction activities, add law‑enforcement consultation and a statewide doorway program",1761,1814000,3575000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2776936-22f03325682b9173dd7b6afdf1c8be58&start=1814&end=3575","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2776936-22f03325682b9173dd7b6afdf1c8be58/thumbnail_1814000.jpg","/articles/6623120/New-Hampshire/Committee-hears-bill-to-define-and-authorize-harmreduction-activities-add-lawenforcement-consultation-and-a-statewide-doorway-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6623120-a7ac96cc3ea6069837f47aa407a07e28/orig.mp4?Expires=1775861964&Signature=alfBc3sN27R-KaLWGMz-owyZXQ2b9eixwsQAz2OfBb-Pk4Eh92bxhsa7k1gvMhx6g7pDdouoyMEJbkXTLpbyjdH6MhAOQIHjLNHxQlL15w3CZV~UnEpckZtRr26JBFDSfZSvFiWHekikY~KQ1SE06xBdk7syzspF~FZM~25y1D4NcDQUoAe1gk0F9EhiUVNAwwJzc5zF1s7aSx9x95iM9vo~BF9Lb-1dqEICH7opzcFl~WxJNnvEiw9ggjhtT74AtPCTbYyiPsWatxPeGn16QfiE8K-3hFnpqpPkPkm9~udIRxMfG9csOndCi65yYaYnTmnhl~uGSLhRfdd3VMwf-Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative David Nagel, a physician and the bill’s sponsor in the House, described House Bill 73 as a framework to give statutory definition and legislative oversight to policies the governor’s commission and federal agencies call harm reduction. Nagel said the bill was written to create common terminology so the state can align with federal grant programs and ensure consistent implementation across agencies.

The bill replaces the term “harm reduction” in most places with “reduction of societal and individual harm,” language Representative Jess Edwards and others helped craft to balance individual life‑saving measures with community impacts. Senator David Waters, a member of the governor’s commission, told the committee the change was intended to strike that balance and to ensure local municipal officials and law enforcement are included in planning and operations for programs such as syringe service programs.

Senator Waters and other proponents described three core changes: establishing the governor’s commission’s authority over harm‑reduction strategy, adding a chiefs‑of‑police representative to the commission, and requiring consultation with local law enforcement where syringe service and other harm‑reduction programs are established. The bill also places the Doorways program into statute as a statewide access point for overdose response and linkage to services.

Chief David Suckling of the Alexandria Police Department testified in support, describing local law‑enforcement efforts to distribute naloxone and to partner with recovery programs. He said his department has distributed roughly 3,000 doses of naloxone and adopted recovery‑oriented practices.

Committee members asked about data on program impacts—Senator Long asked whether data were available on reductions in deaths, needle counts, and program reach. Supporters said the governor’s commission and HHS collect reports and data on naloxone distribution, syringe service program activity and Doorways, and that gaps remain in attributing specific outcomes to individual programs. Proponents pointed to reductions in fatal overdoses in recent reporting and to routine reporting to the commission and HHS as evidence the state can track program activity.

After discussion, the committee moved and approved the bill by voice consent. Several lawmakers emphasized the statutory definition and the requirement for local consultation were intended to address concerns that prompted debate in prior sessions.","House Bill 73 would create statutory definitions and guardrails for harm reduction (recast as reduction of societal and individual harm), add law‑enforcement representation and consultation requirements, and codify the Doorways program and other substance‑use access points.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6623125,"Committee hears bill to extend telehealth study commission for two years",741,1016000,1757000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2776936-22f03325682b9173dd7b6afdf1c8be58&start=1016&end=1757","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2776936-22f03325682b9173dd7b6afdf1c8be58/thumbnail_1016000.jpg","/articles/6623125/New-Hampshire/Committee-hears-bill-to-extend-telehealth-study-commission-for-two-years","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6623125-81193594cb89e4a302a75c4f3c940368/orig.mp4?Expires=1775861964&Signature=AJaWTDsQm6Ik3ntjX4Yz2etSN-HNEzTCbbk6zH6JRRdyW2iDVamlWcmgSQd7C03zoi22iMkGDd1Kb9FrwmB9wUhThTq5yBOp61e9ei9Uw-HmrsArYus5AuC7YvmVb97XUAbPvu-I~nqyqww2zsirfpS0ltojdwqpOXbzdkLfKpSxJDOZcaL4c4IA1nQTbiCatg5uDgDcgzS0XkTymgJ3Ol92aeK7I3TPDIb5cZqQAoRNUvpTtX-dADmJt5knqHIajocyCeL8DjLesQy6oeZ6~J7YIc2mEtKi3erQnCoIfeYIxhHsRR3~EcYS8FY6v4~P-0VM0~rSwsmKKZdSobfn8A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Kevin Avard, billing for Representative Jess Edwards, introduced House Bill 72, which would extend the Commission to Study Telehealth Services and require a supplemental report by June 30, 2026, with the commission repealed on that date.

Holly Stevens, director of public policy at NAMI New Hampshire, told the committee that telehealth has become critical to behavioral health care and that the commission’s data show psychotherapy and substance‑use counseling account for roughly half of those providers’ client services delivered via telehealth; mental‑health visits make up an estimated 80–90% of telehealth visits in the state. Stevens said the commission recommended continued study and oversight because telehealth’s effective adoption is still evolving, particularly for behavioral health and for regions with provider shortages.

Jonathan Ballard, chief medical officer at the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services and former chair of the commission, testified on areas the commission identified for further work. He highlighted potential gains from expanding remote patient monitoring and “hospital‑to‑home” models that could allow patients to leave hospitals earlier while receiving comparable care at home through telehealth and home health services. Ballard also noted opportunities in correctional settings, where the Department of Corrections is installing telehealth booths to reduce transportation needs and security risks.

After testimony and questions, Senator Avard moved that the bill “ought to pass,” seconded by Senator Birdsall; the committee approved the motion by voice consent.

Proponents urged the committee to continue the commission’s work so the state can explore telehealth’s role in improving access, reducing costs, and preparing for an aging population that will increase demand for home‑based services.","House Bill 72 would extend the Commission to Study Telehealth Services and require a supplemental report; proponents argued telehealth is crucial for behavioral health and home‑based care and recommended further study of remote monitoring and hospital‑at‑home models.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6623128,"Committee hears bill to add nasal‑spray epinephrine to school and camp statutes",561,119000,680000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2776936-22f03325682b9173dd7b6afdf1c8be58&start=119&end=680","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2776936-22f03325682b9173dd7b6afdf1c8be58/thumbnail_119000.jpg","/articles/6623128/New-Hampshire/Committee-hears-bill-to-add-nasalspray-epinephrine-to-school-and-camp-statutes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6623128-34267b5e950ed1caea30e9029a3d81d7/orig.mp4?Expires=1775861964&Signature=Mwkt7VB4N3c4Obx3CHTgnQZEDVAKwGxMaP9-3Nlh82XoAFP8J8grQC-2KQi1fAme7EJwfMYsVLdjzLmtbsQIaRkjskqNVgkIZKJDxc4snryuzPBw1XPFr8iP8pBSSdSaob183jgcAHh2kwhVWRDvi2saYyOPVVOLi6d62NE26gWEXpwWRT5eqhv2DmboeE3K1BxtqgVQZ9y3tD9~iRZ2SogbOD48EHVe9WKmBoMAV8FuRAVe2SkaQDozb8w3l6QKCxidzHC5YJRme~uCGoB2nEExewHM~TejXjwTQLUHTOrO65BVpro6g9azLi9wRID4XiMdU8wJVA1RZTrthPHcTw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Bridal Leon, the prime sponsor, opened the hearing on House Bill 63, saying the bill updates existing statutes to allow the newly approved epinephrine nasal spray to be used in the same places where epinephrine auto‑injectors are already permitted.

The bill revises school and camp statutes to give parity to the nasal spray and adds a provision clarifying that a pharmacist may dispense epinephrine auto‑injectors and epinephrine nasal spray pursuant to a prescription issued in the name of a school, post‑secondary institution, or independent school. Representative Bridal Leon said that language was added after pharmacists expressed uncertainty about whether they could fill a prescription written to a school.

Jonathan Ballard, chief medical officer for the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, testified about clinical and coverage considerations. Ballard said the nasal spray is an approved alternative “particularly among needle phobic or children who are scared of needles,” but told the committee the formulation has a strict prior authorization requirement for Medicaid. He gave cost figures the committee could apply to budget and access discussions, saying, “The auto injector currently is $45 to the Medicaid program. The nasal spray is $710 per dose.” Ballard said the high cost has led to prior authorization and restricted coverage to a narrow set of clinical circumstances.

Committee members asked whether the bill would mandate schools to buy the nasal spray; Representative Bridal Leon and Ballard clarified the statute would allow, not require, schools and camps to accept the formulations. Ballard also confirmed the child’s prescription remains the child’s medication and that parents or insurers typically bear the cost unless other arrangements are made. Members discussed whether to avoid naming delivery routes explicitly; one senator proposed amending the statute to refer simply to “epinephrine” to accommodate future delivery forms. Representative Bridal Leon supported that change as a potential improvement.

Representative Bridal Leon said the bill is written to take effect upon passage so camps can have the nasal spray in time for summer programs, noting the sprays tolerate heat in vehicles better than some auto‑injectors. No formal motion or vote on the bill occurred during the hearing.

The committee closed the hearing after questions and did not take immediate action.","Lawmakers heard House Bill 63 to allow recently approved epinephrine nasal spray to be used where autoinjectors are allowed and to clarify pharmacy authority to dispense prescriptions in the name of schools and camps.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee reestablishes study commission on behavioral crisis services for individuals with intellectual disability

Panel hears bill to ease refill rules for certain injectable testosterone prescriptions

Committee hears bill to define and authorize harm‑reduction activities, add law‑enforcement consultation and a statewide doorway program

Committee hears bill to extend telehealth study commission for two years

Committee hears bill to add nasal‑spray epinephrine to school and camp statutes