Several addiction treatment centers and providers based in New Hampshire will be gathering in the capital of the state to raise awareness about federal funding deficits that are impacting the lives of the people who need help overcoming a substance use disorder.
On June 12, a coalition composed of organizations and agencies that provide addiction treatment services financed by the state are expected to meet at the Legislative Office Building of the New Hampshire State Legislature.
The organizers and participating organizations have stated that new Medicaid policies regarding reimbursement rates in the state are making essentially all of the treatment providers pick and choose in order to survive in business. And all of the options are potentially detrimental to the people who need to have access to addiction treatment services.
If no adjustments are made to the Medicaid reimbursement rates that are currently set, addiction treatment providers may have to decrease the number of employees, services or beds that they make available to the patients or they will have to extend their waiting lists.
Services that may be removed from the majority of the addiction treatment centers in the state include detoxification, intensive outpatient therapies, and medication-assisted treatment.
The current Medicaid reimbursement rate for an addiction treatment provider in the state is $162.60. However, the average cost that these providers have to operate and offer services is of $275.00.
The updated Medicaid reimbursement rates include premium assistance programs rates as well, which, on average, cost between $300 and $500.
One of the organizers of the gathering is the Farnum Center — a private, nonprofit that provides medical services to adults struggling with a drug and/or alcohol substance use disorder in its five state-of-the-art addiction treatment centers located across the state of New Hampshire.
Farnum Center representatives highlighted several issues that addiction treatment providers could be facing if no reconsiderations are made to the most recent updates to the state’s Medicaid policies. “The [addiction treatment provider] community cannot sustain these large rate cuts and continue to maintain services,” they stated.
Farum Center is the healthcare provider that holds the highest number of beds for individuals in need of addiction treatment while accepting Medicaid in New Hampshire.
Cheryl Wilkie, the chief operating officer of the Farum Center, explained that the nonprofit organization is expecting to experience dramatic services cuts if no changes or adjustments come before the following year.
She emphasized that her team is looking to get state officials to address the issue and help the people of New Hampshire before it is too late.
The members of the coalition have also extended the invitation to all of the supporters and inquisitors who may want to join forces with them in raising awareness to the issue.
The representatives of the treatment center stated that the attendees will have the chance to hear from several leaders and clients of the local addiction treatment and recovery community who will be able to better explain why the unsustainable Medicaid rates should be reconsidered.
“The situation is dire and immediate,” Wilkie said.
Author: Livia Areas-Holmblad
Livia Holmblad is an editor at Addiction Now and covers breaking news, features and everything in between. She moved to SoCal after living in NYC for about 10 years, where she worked for VICE and SinoVision as a writer, editor, host, producer, and director. Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro. Contact Livia at liviah@addictionnow.com
