By GARRY RAYNO, InDepthNH.org
CONCORD — The House Thursday sent a bill to interim study that would have required insurers to cover a greater array of mental health services for minors.
Under House Bill 498 insurance companies would have to cover the costs of Fast Forward, a part of the state’s Medicaid program for children in the early stages of a mental health crisis.
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A contractor runs the program that provides treatments that attempt to prevent the crisis from escalating, resulting in lengthy hospitalizations or expensive out-of-state placements.
The cost is about $50,000 per child.
Supporters of the bill including Gov. Kelly Ayotte, said the bill addresses the growing need for children’s mental health services before the crisis becomes more intensive.
Supporters of the bill said it would also save the state money by preventing out-of-state placements and extended hospitalization which is the state’s responsibility.
But those agreeing with the committee’s recommendation for interim study said a compromise with insurers is very close and a few more months to sort through the complexities will be beneficial to the children at risk, their families and the state.
House Commerce Chair John Hunt, R-Rindge, said “We agree with Gov. Ayotte that children’s mental health coverage is a serious problem. However the answer to this problem will not be solved through a hasty, last-second Hail Mary.”
Together, Republicans, Democrats and the corner office have the opportunity to come together and deliver a reasonable solution for the people of New Hampshire, he said.
Last week Ayotte blasted the committee over its recommendation to study the issue rather than passing the bill the Senate approved and had included the money in its proposed budget last year.
The House removed the money for the program in its budget proposal and the compromise budget approved by both the House and Senate did not include the money.
After the vote, Ayotte released a statement expressing her disappointment.
“It’s disappointing to see elected representatives choose subsidizing insurance companies over kids’ mental health care. Anthem and other carriers must be held accountable for denying families coverage for these critical services,” the governor said. “I’m not giving up on this, and I’ll continue working to ensure our children — and their families — get the care and support they need.”
The House Commerce Committee will study the issue and it likely will be included as part of the budget discussions in next year’s session with a new legislature.
Transgender Restrictions
The House passed its sixth bill this session that would allow companies, organizations and businesses to segregate people based on biological sex without bringing a discrimination charge.
House Bill 552 is similar to bills vetoed by Govs. Kelly Ayotte and Chris Sununu in past sessions and this session by Ayotte, it would deny transgender individuals access to locker rooms and bathrooms, and prisons if they are not designated for their biological sex at birth or to participate in sports.
Rep. Marjorie Smith, D-Durham, who has been in the House for 30 years and noted she was making her last floor speech as she is not running for reelection, lamented the current process that has allowed six versions of virtually the same bill to come before the body this session and the lack of decorum resulting in some of the worst hate and discriminatory language she has ever heard in the House.
“This bill takes a different approach,” Smith said. “When is enough enough.”
There have been statements attacking transgender members of the House and others painting them with a very broad brush, and a lack of respect, Smith said.
The transgender community is only asking to be treated with the respect “we all deserve. To pass bill after bill . . . diminishes the seriousness of the legislative process and interferes with all of us to live our lives as we choose,” she said.
Smith said she is reminded of a time when a Wisconsin senator (Joseph McCarthy) tried to divide the country and another senator finally said to him “have you no sense of decency?” Smith noted the question is still valid.
But supporters of the bill said it protects the privacy and safety of women and girls who have to use the facilities named in the legislation, with one representative saying it would be inhumane not to pass the legislation.
The bill passed on a 179-159 vote and is going to the governor.
Tolls
The House overturned the recommendation of its Ways and Means Committee to study a bill that would double the turnpike tolls for out-of-state drivers, while maintaining the current rates for in-state EZPass holders.
Senate Bill 627 passed the Senate unanimously but the House Ways and Means Committee said it wanted to take more time to study the bill and the effects it would have on tourism, commercial vehicles and New Hampshire residents without EZPass who pay cash and would be impacted by the toll increase.
Rep. Thomas Schamberg, D-Wilmot, urged his colleague to overturn the recommendation and pass the bill as it would help fill the $300 million to $400 million gap in the state’s 10-year highway improvement plan.
He said the Senate added 13 additional projects to plan with the toll increase including the long-delayed expansion of I-93 from Bow through Concord, as well as other projects around the state.
“Interim study does not keep those projects alive,” he said, noting delaying projects means they are more expensive when they do get built and the longer the wait the more the deterioration and expense.
“All the information we need is right in front of us,” Schamberg said.
But Rep. Jordan Ulery, R-Hudson, said Schamberg is listening to the special interests without considering other factors like what it would do to tourism and what it will do to the cost of imported goods coming from out-of-state.
These numbers are all right for the special interest groups, he said, but if you don’t have a transponder your tolls will double.
There are lots of things that need to be figured out, Ulery said, and the committee needs time to do that.
Waiting six months will not make a big difference, he said.
But the House voted down the interim study recommendation on a 157-151 vote, and passed the bill on a voice vote sending it to the governor who has said she opposes a toll increase, but has not directly said what she intends to do with the bill.
Garry Rayno may be reached at garry.rayno@yahoo.com.