Gov. Hassan To Review State Substance Abuse Treatment Regulations

As demand for substance misuse treatment services increases, Gov. Hassan looks to review license requirements for residential substance abuse treatment centers.

Hassan and Health and Human Services (HHS) Commissioner Nick Toumpas established a working group to review and make recommendations on how to speed up approvals of new residential treatment centers, according to a release from Gov. Hassan’s Office. The working group has until Sept. 30 to report its findings.

The working group will be led by HHS director of operations support, Mary Castelli. According to the Governor’s Office, Castelli will oversee the licensing unit, and will consult with providers, the advocacy community, the Governor’s Senior Director of Substance Misuse and Behavioral Health and the State Fire Marshal.

The group will also be reviewing other states’ facility licensing rules.

“In light of the increasing need for residential treatment facilities, and the concern raised by treatment centers, the state is taking immediate action to review our licensing requirements for treatment centers,” Hassan said in the release. “We have a legal and moral obligation to ensure that residential treatment centers are safe for their residents and their staffs, but we must also make sure regulations do not erect unnecessary barriers to new treatment options.”

New Hampshire’s licensing rules for residential treatment facilities have been updated several times since their establishment 30 years ago. The most recent updates to the licensing rules for treatment facilities were implemented in 2011.