Senators comment on Gov. Sununu veto of effort to tackle opioid, mental health epidemics

CONCORD — Today, Governor Sununu vetoed SB 5, a bipartisan bill that passed the Senate unanimously and would increase access to critical mental health services and substance use disorder treatment by boosting Medicaid provider rates as well as emergency shelter and stabilization services.

Following the veto, Senate Majority Leader Dan Feltes (D-Concord) and prime sponsor Sen. Cindy Rosenwald (D-Nashua) released the following statements:

“New Hampshire has one of the worst opioid epidemics with one of the worst treatment provider capacities. SB 5 bolsters behavioral health rates for our providers consistent with bipartisan Medicaid Expansion agreement; it was a critical bipartisan bill to maintain provider capacity and today’s veto is frankly shocking and dangerous for continued access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment in the future,” said Sen. Feltes. “After Gov. Sununu opposed an effort this summer to deal with behavioral health rates, and now after his veto of SB 5, it is clear he never intended to fulfill the bipartisan agreement of Medicaid Expansion, and he is holding New Hampshire back from making progress on the opioid and mental health crises.”

Sen. Rosenwald added: “It’s clear the governor failed to comprehend the language of Senate Bill 5, because it clearly notes these sorely needed funds are non-lapsing. Furthermore, because of today’s veto emergency shelter and stabilization services for people experiencing substance use disorders in Manchester are now in jeopardy.”