Bill > SB123

This bill requires the New Hampshire state Medicaid plan to include ear acupuncture as a treatment for substance misuse, allowing the treatment to be administered during detoxification and throughout treatment for opioid addiction and other types of substance misuse. The bill mandates that the Department of Health and Human Services submit any necessary amendments to the state Medicaid plan to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) by January 1, 2026. Ear acupuncture, a traditional healing technique involving the insertion of thin needles into specific points of the ear, will now be a covered treatment under Medicaid for individuals struggling with substance addiction. The bill will take effect 60 days after its passage, and while a complete fiscal impact assessment is pending, it represents an effort to expand treatment options for individuals dealing with substance misuse by including an alternative therapeutic approach within the state's Medicaid coverage.

Health and Social Services

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_status.aspx?lsr=948&sy=2025&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2025&txtbillnumber=SB123