Health
High court rules against state in ’emergency room boarding’ case
The New Hampshire Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled against the state’s argument that with a shortage of psychiatric beds, it can hold people in emergency rooms indefinitely, against their will, after finding them in need of emergency mental health care. The court said the state Department of Health and Human Services must provide individuals probable […]
FDA green lights Pfizer vaccine for kids 12-15, with CDC still to act
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday signed off on expanding the use of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to children ages 12 to 15, clearing one key hurdle before that age group can begin receiving the two-shot vaccine. But another step is needed before tweens and teens can line up for shots. The […]
‘Every day, Black women die because the system denies our humanity’
WASHINGTON — When U.S. Rep. Cori Bush of Missouri was pregnant with her first child, Zion, she saw a sign in her doctor’s office encouraging her to speak up about anything unusual she was feeling. She did so, telling her physician that she was having severe pains, but her concerns were swiftly dismissed. The doctor […]
Advocates seek increase in funding for independent-living program
More than 400 seniors and people with disabilities are able to live independently rather than in a nursing home thanks to a Medicaid program that brings assistance for basic needs to them. But the state so underfunds the program that the care falls far short of what is needed, advocates and clients of the program […]
After a year of pandemic, mental health challenges are many
New Hampshire’s crawl toward reopening is now a sprint. Weeks after ending the state’s mask mandate, Gov. Chris Sununu will lift pandemic restrictions on businesses Friday and wants all state workers back to the office by Monday. Not everyone is celebrating, say mental health workers. A year of isolation, death, uncertainty, and fear has been […]
States with higher vaccine demand will be able to request more from federal government
WASHINGTON — With demand for COVID-19 vaccines dropping in many states, the federal government is changing how those doses are allocated. Under the new policy, any doses that a state doesn’t request from its weekly, population-based allotment will be held in a general pool, and states with higher demand can request additional shots from that surplus. […]
Proposed restrictions on reproductive health care funding loom large in budget debate
This story was updated on May 3, 2021 at 8 a.m. The pandemic left Rep. Joshua Query unemployed and underinsured – and then in a medical crisis when a former partner called to say he had exposed Query to HIV. Query could afford only one option: Planned Parenthood. The medical team not only charged Query […]
New guidance gives a bit of breathing room on wearing masks outdoors
Just in time for cookouts and black flies, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday fully vaccinated people can socialize and dine outdoors with a small group of friends without wearing a mask, even if those friends are unvaccinated. In its new color-coded guide, the CDC still recommends everyone wear masks at crowded […]
Bill adds to list of qualifying conditions for medicinal marijuana
Insomniacs and people with autism spectrum disorder may soon have a new treatment option: medicinal marijuana. A bill adding both to the state’s qualifying conditions sailed through the House this month and won unanimous support from the Senate Health and Human Services Committee following a hearing where no one testified in opposition. The full Senate […]
Student loan repayment program to expand
The state is expanding its student loan repayment program, a critical recruiting tool for the community mental health centers and providers who work with low-income people. And there’s hope good budget news this year will allow even more expansion. Currently, certain drug and alcohol counselors, mental health workers, nurse practitioners, and several other health care […]
Pandemic fight, ‘personal liberty’ collide in state legislatures
Rep. Tim Lang introduced his “immunization freedom” bill in 2019, before COVID-19, to end a state requirement that foster parents be vaccinated against the flu and other communicable diseases. Once the pandemic arrived, so did out-of-staters determined to recast it as an anti-mandate, “personal liberty” bill, similar to nearly 500 others pending in state legislatures […]
Commentary: I’m a pediatrician who cares for transgender kids
When Charlie, a 10-year-old boy, came in for his first visit, he didn’t look at me or my colleague. Angry and crying, he insisted to us that he was cisgender – that he was a boy and had been born male. A few months before Charlie came into our office, he handed a note to […]