September 25, 2024  – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has approved New Hampshire’s Medicaid State Plan Amendment, enabling the state to offer mobile crisis intervention services for individuals facing mental health or substance use emergencies. This significant move aligns New Hampshire with twenty other states and the District of Columbia in adopting community-based interventions, an initiative bolstered by funding from the Biden-Harris American Rescue Plan.

With the CMS approval, New Hampshire is poised to provide 24/7 access to behavioral health specialists for Medicaid-eligible residents in crisis. This expansion is part of a broader effort by the Biden-Harris Administration to enhance mental health and substance use disorder services nationwide.

“Expanding access to mental health and substance use care – especially for those in crisis – is a top priority for the Biden-Harris Administration,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “I applaud New Hampshire for making mobile crisis care and other community-based supports available to its residents. I encourage more states to do the same. These resources save lives and improve health.”

CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure praised New Hampshire’s initiative, emphasizing the importance of providing timely, on-site care to prevent the escalation of health crises. “Mobile crisis services meet people where they are, providing essential mental health and substance use disorder services when people need them most. I applaud New Hampshire on this policy because we know that meeting people in crisis where they are, with access to a behavioral health specialist 24 hours per day, can help save lives.”

The approved mobile crisis teams are composed of trained behavioral health professionals who perform on-the-spot assessments and de-escalate crises. These teams also provide crucial follow-up services, ensuring individuals receive comprehensive care coordination tailored to their specific needs.

This model not only aims to address immediate health concerns but also reduces the reliance on inpatient care, which can be costly and disruptive for patients. By integrating mobile crisis services into Medicaid, New Hampshire expects to improve overall healthcare efficiency and outcomes for individuals experiencing mental health or substance use challenges.

The initiative is part of President Biden’s larger strategy to overhaul the United States’ mental health infrastructure, ensuring that all Americans have access to high-quality care. Following New Hampshire’s lead, other states are encouraged to utilize Medicaid amendments to fund similar life-saving services.

For more details on the implementation of this new service in New Hampshire and other states, visit Medicaid.gov.