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New Hampshire received an initial allocation of $204 million in December, with hopes of qualifying for recurring disbursements in each of the next four years.
The overall idea is that GO-NORTH and its five hubs will use the federal funding to work with partners to tackle challenges around health care services, infrastructure, and education.
The four contracts approved last week include $66.5 million to the Foundation for Healthy Communities, $43.8 million to the New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority, $15.7 million to the University System of New Hampshire, and $6.7 million to the Community College System of New Hampshire.
The $21.6 million contract up for consideration on Wednesday would go to the New Hampshire Community Behavioral Health Association.
Governor Kelly Ayotte said partnering with the association will help to improve the sustainability and accessibility of the state’s mental health system.
“Our community mental health centers are critical to ensuring that all Granite Staters have access to quality mental health care in New Hampshire,” she said in a statement. “Through GO-NORTH, we have an opportunity to make them even stronger and expand access to vital services.”
This proposed contract would be used to bring the state’s community mental health centers — more than 40 locations across 10 regions — onto the same electronic health records system, invest in other shared platforms to streamline operations, promote workforce development, and transition the centers to a newer certification model, according to the request that GO-NORTH Director Donnalee Lozeau submitted to the Executive Council and the governor’s office.
Roland Lamy, executive director of the New Hampshire Community Behavioral Health Association, said transitioning the centers to what’s known as the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) model will promote greater consistency and pave the way for improved access to care.
The model aims to better coordinate mental health, substance use, and primary care services, and it requires that crisis help be made available around the clock.
While some community mental health centers in New Hampshire have already achieved CCBHC certification, Lamy said completing this transition will help to reduce over-reliance on emergency departments and hospitals, while tapping into a sustainable model for Medicaid funding.
Lamy is a principal at Helms & Company Inc., a health care consulting firm based in Concord, N.H., that provides management services for the New Hampshire Community Behavioral Health Association. Under the proposed contract, the firm would play a key role in coordinating this component of the state’s initiatives.
Lozeau, the GO-NORTH director, wrote that approving this proposed contract is “essential” to the state’s transformational plans.
This story appeared in Globe NH | Morning Report, a free newsletter focused on New Hampshire, including great coverage from the Boston Globe and links to interesting articles elsewhere. To receive it via email Monday through Friday, sign up here.
Steven Porter can be reached at steven.porter@globe.com. Follow him @reporterporter.