Staffing critically low at NH mental health centers, officials say

THE STAFF THEY HAVE AND ATTRACT NEW PEOPLE. HERE AT THE LEGISLATURE TODAY, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT’S NOT THE CASE FOR ALL OUR STAFF, WE KNOW THOSE MEDICAID RATES HAVE TO INCREASE IN ORDER FOR US TO HAVE A WORKFORCE THAT WILL CARE FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS. ADMINISTRATORS FROM ALL TEN COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS GATHERED HERE IN CONCORD TO PLEAD FOR INCREASED FUNDING. PART OF THE REASON THEY ARE DEALING WITH ADDITIONAL TAX LIKE HOMELESS OUTREACH, THEY SAY WHILE THE CHALLENGES DIFFER DEPENDING UPON WHAT PART OF THE STATE YOU’RE IN, THERE IS ONE THING IN COMMON THE UNDERLYING WORKFORCE ISSUE IS COMMON TO ALL REGIONS OF OUR STATE. THEY PRESENTED NUMBERS FROM THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS SHOWING THAT PAY RATES IN NEW HAMPSHIRE DON’T KEEP PACE WITH WHAT’S AVAILABLE ELSEWHERE FROM THIS ANALYSIS, WE DETERMINED THAT OUR COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM IS IN DIRE NEED OF ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT. COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS ARE DEPENDENT ON MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT FOR BETWEEN 65 AND 90% OF THEIR REVENUE. THE NEW HAMPSHIRE HOUSE INCREASED FUNDING IN THEIR BUDGET, BUT LAMMY SAYS THEY NEED ANOTHER 26 TO 28 MILLION MORE. THIS INVESTMENT WAS JUST TO BRING US TO THE CURRENT MARKET. TWO CURRENT MEDIAN SALARY LEVELS. IT DOES NOT ADJUST FOR FUTURE ISSUES. FUTURE RISES IN COST. THE SENATORS SAY THEY HAVE GOTTEN GOOD FEEDBACK FROM THE GOVERNOR. THE HOUSE AND THE STATE SENATE, WHERE THE BUDGET CURRENTLY RESIDES. AND THEY’RE HOPEFUL THAT ALL THOSE LEGISLATORS WILL HEED THEI

Staffing critically low at NH mental health centers, officials say

Updated: 12:39 PM EDT Apr 11, 2023

Administrators said additional tasks combined with low pay rates are making it difficult to keep staff.

Administrators said additional tasks combined with low pay rates are making it difficult to keep staff.