Sununu signs bipartisan mental health bill to address ER boarding crisis

A sweeping bill to address New Hampshire’s emergency department boarding crisis became law Tuesday, after Gov. Chris Sununu signed a measure advocates hope could turn the crisis around.

Senate Bill 11 attempts to address a decade-long problem for the state: the dozens of mental health patients trapped in emergency departments and awaiting care. As of Sunday, 34 were housed in emergency departments, part of a backlog brought on by a severe shortage of beds, according to Sen. Tom Sherman, the bill’s prime sponsor.

“The foundation for meaningful progress has been laid, and I would like to thank the House and Senate for working in a bipartisan manner to get this done,” Sununu said.

The bill allocates $10.6 million to help open up pathways to care, including over $5 million to help increase “designated receiving facility” beds. Those beds, which would need to be constructed and run by hospitals, would allow an off-ramp for those stuck in boarding rooms to receive acute mental health care.

Read more: https://www.concordmonitor.com/Sununu-signs-bipartisan-mental-health-bill-to-address-New-Hampshire-ER-boarding-crisis-25712048