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Health and Human Services seeks permission to distribute unsold COVID-19 tests
The 1 million COVID-19 tests Health and Human Services ordered in January to sell at state liquor stores didn’t quite fly off the shelves, leaving about 926,000 tests still available. The department has asked the Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee for permission to send many of the surplus tests to health centers, schools, camps, and child […]
Dartmouth Health, GraniteOne Health abandon merger plans following objections from AG
Two of the state’s largest health care providers have abandoned plans to merge following objections from the Attorney General’s Office, which said the proposed partnership between Dartmouth Health and GraniteOne Health would limit competition yet not provide protections for consumers. “New Hampshire consumers already pay exceptionally high prices for health care,” said Attorney General John […]
Expanded dental benefits for Medicaid recipients on the cusp of becoming reality
After years of coming close, the state is poised to give its approximately 85,000 residents on Medicaid coverage not just for tooth extractions and emergency dental care but also for the diagnostic and preventive care needed to fend off those serious problems. The House and Senate gave final approval to Senate Bill 422 Thursday, and […]
Sununu touts New Hampshire’s abortion ban on national podcast
This story was updated May 14, 2022 at 7:30 a.m. to correct the name of the co-host. Asked in a podcast interview what abortion restrictions he’d put in place if he had his choice, Gov. Chris Sununu defended the 24-week abortion ban he signed last year and boasted he was the first Republican governor in […]
Lawmakers work on bill to make it easier for people to remove records from vaccine registry
Currently, the state will remove a person’s immunization records from its new vaccine registry only if their former or current health care provider signs a withdrawal form. The House and Senate have passed legislation making that process easier, but have rejected efforts to eliminate the signature requirement. As introduced, House Bill 1487 would have required […]
Attorney general defends YDC settlement fund, says state committed to ‘doing the right thing’
Attorney General John Formella defended his proposed $100 million Youth Development Center abuse settlement fund Monday, pushing back against complaints that it excludes victims of emotional abuse and sexual abuse with no physical contact, including some who were the subjects of child abuse images. “We saw a lot of discussion that this bill excluded victims, […]
Senate sends ‘right of conscience’ bill to interim study, passes repeal of clinic buffer zone law
The Legislature worked late into the night Thursday to act on bills ranging from reproductive health protections to vaccine mandate exemptions. The House and Senate had until midnight to take up the other body’s bills. Those that survived unchanged will head to the governor. Bills changed by one body will return to their originating chamber, […]
Legislative roundup: $100 million YDC settlement fund approved by Senate
The Senate passed legislation Thursday allotting $100 million to settle claims with the hundreds of people who’ve said they were sexually or physically abused as children while held at the state’s former Youth Development Center. Over the fierce objections of victim advocates and their lawyers, payments are capped at $1.5 million for sexual abuse and […]
Not used but needed: Providers oppose efforts to repeal clinic buffer zones
In early April, a woman arrived at the Equality Health Center to terminate a pregnancy she wanted but was too ill to continue. Dehydrated from vomiting, she passed out outside the clinic and couldn’t walk in on her own. As Dalia Vidunas, the center’s executive director, helped her through a crowd of 22 protesters, some […]
House Republicans block Democrats’ attempts to take up legislation protecting abortion rights
House Democrats’ renewed efforts to pass bills protecting rights to an abortion failed Wednesday when a majority of House members blocked consideration of the legislation. Rep. Steven Smith, a Charlestown Republican, faulted Democrats for bringing forth the bills, two of which had been previously tabled, while the House was still considering pending legislation. “When I […]
After assurances from AG, council approves Wellpath contract for Hampstead Hospital
Executive councilors unanimously approved a two-year, $52 million contract Wednesday with a company that primarily treats incarcerated adults to provide psychiatric care for children at Hampstead Hospital. They did so after Attorney General John Formella told them the company hasn’t faced an “unusually high” number of lawsuits for an organization working in the prison industry, […]
Organizations call on Executive Council to reconsider Wellpath contract for Hampstead Hospital
Five organizations focused on protecting children and their access to mental health treatment have called on executive councilors to seriously reconsider the state’s proposed contract with Wellpath Recovery Solutions to provide psychiatric care to children at Hampstead Hospital. They cited the company’s primary focus on providing health care to adults in prison and the numerous […]