Health
Some executive councilors say they’ll oppose contracts with advance payments
Some members of the Executive Council have told the state Department of Health and Human Services they will oppose all future contracts that include advance payments for startup costs. The department said that decision would jeopardize its ability to provide mental health care, support for kids, and other services. Prepayments have been included in 39 […]
When it comes to vaccine mandates, employers have the law on their side
It’s a short conversation when workers call employment attorney Jon Meyer asking if their employer can require a COVID-19 vaccination and fire them if they refuse. With very few exceptions, the answer is yes – regardless of arguments that doing so is illegal until the vaccines get final approval from the Food and Drug Administration. […]
Democrats say governor, administration not doing enough to support vaccination effort
With vaccination rates lagging and COVID-19 cases climbing in New Hampshire, a group of Democratic lawmakers and public health advocates called on Gov. Chris Sununu to step up the state’s push to get more residents immunized. Promoting videos of himself and public health officials urging residents to get vaccinated is not enough, they said. “In […]
Hospital association supports mandating vaccinations for health care workers
The New Hampshire Hospital Association called Tuesday for mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for health care workers in hospitals and all health care settings, citing state data showing unvaccinated people make up 99 percent of COVID-19 cases and 98 percent of COVID-19 deaths. “The COVID-19 vaccine prevents people from becoming seriously ill, requiring hospitalization, or dying from […]
Contracts aim to address shortage of mental health crisis beds in state
State health officials have long said the shortage of mental health crisis beds at the state hospital is a “back door” problem, meaning there are too few places to discharge patients who are ready to leave but still need some care. That backup would be reduced under tentative agreements the state Department of Health and […]
CDC says the vaccinated should wear masks indoors in areas with high infection rates
WASHINGTON – Federal health officials on Tuesday urged Americans in areas of the country with the highest surges in COVID-19 infections to once again wear masks when they are in public, indoor settings – even if they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The updated recommendations marked a sharp shift from the agency’s guidance in May […]
In push for pricing transparency, state’s hospitals stumble
This story was updated June 27, 2021 at 8 a.m. to include a comment from HCA NH, which includes Frisbie Memorial Hospital, Parkland Medical Center, and Portsmouth Regional Hospital. Under a new federal law, hospitals are required to post prices for hundreds of procedures on their websites and make those costs easy for patients to […]
Sununu signs ‘immunization freedom’ bill into law
This story was updated June 26 at 8:30 p.m. to clarify that the state can continue mandating immunizations but has not added the COVID-19 vaccination to its required immunizations. With less than 50 percent of the country fully vaccinated, California and New York City announced Monday that all public workers will be required to get […]
Officials report 22 current hospitalizations, three deaths this week related to COVID-19
Over 99 percent of COVID-19 deaths in a several-state study over the last six months were unvaccinated people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which reported the number while urging more people to get vaccinated. In New Hampshire, that data is not being closely tracked for deaths or hospitalizations, Gov. Chris Sununu […]
American Academy of Pediatrics says even vaccinated students should wear masks
When schools reopen, the American Academy of Pediatrics is recommending everyone over the age of 2 wears a mask, even if they have been vaccinated. So far, state public health officials have not adopted that recommendation and local policies differ among districts. The recommendation from the AAP, issued Monday, differs from the Centers for Disease […]
Amid talk of booster shots, focus remains on getting more people fully vaccinated
As Pfizer and federal agencies argue over the need for a COVID-19 booster shot, an associate professor of medicine at the Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine sees a different priority: getting more people vaccinated now. “I think what we really need to think about is the order in which this is (done),” said Dr. Michael […]
State’s medicinal marijuana industry has stabilized, but barriers to growth remain
The video announcement was framed like a victory address. Standing before a woodpile, Prime Alternative Treatment Center CEO Keenan Blum gave the center’s Facebook followers a breathless update: the New Hampshire medical marijuana dispensary was lowering its prices. Prime had increased its growing capacity, bumped up its offering of cannabis strains, and reduced expenses, Blum […]