Governor Hassan and the Executive Council approved contracts today for new initiatives to help connect individuals to substance misuse treatment and to expand access to medication-assisted treatment.
Governor Hassan and the Executive Council approved a $1.8 million contract with the Foundation for Healthy Communities, which will partner with hospitals to increase the capacity of emergency rooms to connect individuals being treated for overdoses with substance use disorder treatment resources, as well as work to increase medication-assisted treatment across the state.
In addition, the Governor and Executive Council approved a $1.2 million contract to provide Regional Access Point Services in 11 Public Health Regions statewide. The Regional Access Points will work in tandem with the New Hampshire Statewide Addiction Crisis Line (1-844-711-HELP (4357) and 2-1-1) to identify and help individuals receive appropriate treatment services.
"It is critically important that we help people in crisis access treatment as quickly as possible. These two new contracts will expand New Hampshire's ability to support and connect people with treatment options," Governor Hassan said. "These resources will also provide support to firefighters, police officers, paramedics and emergency room personnel who are battling addiction on the front lines to help save lives."
As part of its new contract, the Foundation for Healthy Communities will also help recruit and contract with physician practices to develop or enhance their capacity to provide medication-assisted treatment.
"Combating the heroin and opioid crisis continues to require urgent action and constant vigilance, and these resources will support those battling addiction on the front lines help save lives," Governor Hassan said. "These contracts will build on our efforts to increase medication-assisted treatment across the state, expand hospital emergency department programs and support regional access point service providers statewide help people access treatment and recovery services, and I commend the Executive Council for its bipartisan votes to approve these critical resources."