New Psychiatric Hospital Proposal For Concord Discussed Thursday

CONCORD, NH — New Hampshire does not have a facility to assist and treat people with acute mental illness which is why a new forensic psychiatric facility is being proposed to be built near NH Hospital.

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Administrative Services, and NH Hospital officials are hosting a virtual info session about the project for 6 p.m. on Thursday. The facility will include 24-beds and will be a secure facility. State officials will discuss the plan, where the proposal is at in the planning stages, and a timeline for when it will be built.

Construction of the hospital, officials said, will create a setting that will allow for skilled psychiatric treatment in a safe and therapeutic environment for patients. During the session, state leaders will address the plan, steps taken to date, and a timeline for the project.

Meeting Info

The virtual information session will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 7. Instructions for participating in the information session in Zoom:

• Meeting: Proposed Forensic Psychiatric Hospital Virtual Information Session
• Computer access: https://nh-dhhs.zoom.us/j/92973942428?pwd=NVhDWXNveVExU1RVL0ZUS1lSam1ndz09
• Telephone access: 646-558-8656
• Meeting ID: 929 7394 2428
• Passcode: 202019

The public will be invited to submit questions and comments during the session. This is the first session on the project and the state intends to hold additional sessions as the project advances.

All Major Insurance Carriers Now Taken

This week, the New Hampshire Insurance Department also announced the state had negotiated contracts with all major insurance companies for NH Hospital services.

Carriers now under contract with the hospital include Aetna, Ambetter, Anthem, Cigna, Harvard Pilgrim, and United Health Care. Patient care now, officials said, can be provided seamlessly in the state with an in-network provider rather than having to travel out of state.

“I want to thank our state’s health insurers for their commitment to tackling the challenges in our state’s mental health system,” Insurance Commissioner Chris Nicolopoulos said. “Our department was clear that we wanted each of the carriers to have a provider contract with New Hampshire Hospital and we found willing partners in that effort.”

DJ Bettencourt, the deputy commissioner, said the hospital’s legal division was able to work quickly to finalize the contracts, calling it a “significant win” for patients.

“The last thing Granite Starters who are working through a mental health issue should have to worry about is whether there will be complications in covering the expenses of their treatment,” he said. “With these agreements in place, Granite Starters who are seeking treatment for a mental health emergency at the New Hampshire Hospital can be assured that those services will be covered.”

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