Sununu vetoes rate increase for substance abuse, mental health treatment providers

Gov. Chris Sununu vetoed a bill to increase funds to substance abuse and mental health treatment providers Friday, frustrating the bill’s supporters and some providers who said the bill would have provided much-needed temporary aid.

Senate Bill 5, passed by both chambers in early May, would have set aside $3 million in short-term funds to allow the Department of Health and Human Services to raise reimbursement rates to those providers under Medicaid and Medicaid expansion.

Supporters of the bill said the funding was urgent for the providers, who have faced dramatic funding cut-backs after changes to the Medicaid expansion law last year.

Cheryl Wilkie, CEO of the Farnum Center, a substance use treatment organization with facilities in Manchester and Franklin, said the funding reductions have taken a toll.

Read more: https://www.concordmonitor.com/Sununu-vetoes-rate-increase-for-SUD-and-mental-health-providers-26119231