Department of Health and Human Services

Lori Weaver, of Concord, was serving as acting commissioner since Dec. 17, 2022.

State officials said they are working to make sure people who no longer qualify for Medicaid know about other health insurance options.

Kristy Gesse filed her lawsuit in Merrimack County Superior Court in January under the pseudonym Jane Doe #73. She has decided now to be named.

The facility houses people serving prison sentences who require psychiatric care, but also mental health patients who have not been convicted of a crime.

The competing proposals come in response to a federal judge’s ruling that New Hampshire must stop holding patients in mental health crises in ERs for prolonged periods.

The order does not immediately end the practice, but requires hospitals and the state health department to create a timeline to propose solutions.

The state says workforce shortages are impeding its efforts to fix the issue.

Even with signing bonuses, the state’s 10 community mental health centers are down nearly 340 clinical positions that work directly with patients.

The state is encouraging people to submit updated proof of eligibility as soon as possible, so they can keep receiving coverage after the rules expire in March.

NHPR’s All Things Considered host Julia Furukawa spoke with New Hampshire Human Health Services Commissioner Lori Shibinette to talk about her time in office and what the future holds for public health in the state.