[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6646766,"mediaKeyId","2528106-3fcec428c636bddd56327c25f281c942","parentId",2528106,"title","Officials defend New Hampshire Vaccine Association model; lawmakers press on possible impacts of bill to eliminate it","audioSeconds",362,"startMs",10804000,"endMs",11166000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2528106-3fcec428c636bddd56327c25f281c942&start=10804&end=11166","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2528106-3fcec428c636bddd56327c25f281c942/thumbnail_10804000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6646766/New-Hampshire/Officials-defend-New-Hampshire-Vaccine-Association-model-lawmakers-press-on-possible-impacts-of-bill-to-eliminate-it","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6646766-2338022b8bcbaac4727cafb916996262/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199020&Signature=B8Td034ep4Ysdd-D1JYz3TwFmT0naYT0LtArBlSF4dwF191u9H90k0bU94lyq6glwAgmaH7VJs93Jfv7CU3gMpNt4hG2fvAu-nENwTSa9OWB5GK8Q-KfHVwT2IZSQqSzHY2y5tyY4CbD1m1gTd0EYTOrt4XvYTQV~P1apIVZTr85xPB69LipT-HNhUYAzXzOvv6saPkrF7jmJWonFIjKdHE3B9z~c8L00q97-osToAGkGHQHJqhx6pj4TlarUsp3Jf1GtXOEjbolnZcnOCov~gR4c2XQ1lBMZE9ay-djnD2etByUh~synL-xQYrDfRulvzGyY4YtAXHP2d8RQjjGaw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Hampshire Legislature","date","2025-03-05T06:41:17.25Z","article","The Department of Health and Human Services outlined how the New Hampshire Vaccine Association (NHVA) finances vaccines for the state’s universal childhood vaccine program and warned lawmakers that restructuring the mechanism could create access differences among providers.

Tilley explained that NHVA is an independent organization created in statute to collect assessments from commercial payers through a covered‑lives methodology. The association transfers collected funds to the state, which purchases vaccines — often at the CDC’s negotiated prices — and distributes them to providers. The arrangement can lower per‑dose costs, help providers manage cold‑chain logistics and reduce administrative burden, Tilley and Nathan White said.

Committee members noted pending legislation (discussed but not voted on at the session) that would change or eliminate the association; lawmakers asked how that change could affect smaller rural providers and the state’s ability to bulk‑purchase newer products and distribute them quickly during outbreaks. Tilley said the association is a financing mechanism, not an immunization policy body, and does not direct vaccine policy; removing it could leave the state and smaller providers to negotiate purchases independently or to rely on disparate commercial arrangements, which could slow distribution and create inequities.

Members debated whether the association’s assessments create a perverse incentive for the state to expand the vaccine catalog to generate more rebate revenue. Tilley said the state does not set immunization policy to capture rebate revenue and that the association does not determine which vaccines are purchased; purchases follow clinical recommendations and public‑health needs.

Ending: Legislators signaled they would monitor language in the bill and requested additional analysis of how elimination of NHVA would alter procurement practices, cold‑chain logistics and rural provider access to vaccines.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Finance Division III (03/04/2025)","oneSentenceSummary","The Department of Health and Human Services outlined how the New Hampshire Vaccine Association finances vaccines for the state’s universal childhood vaccine program and warned lawmakers that restructuring the mechanism could create access differences among providers.","taxTitle","Finance - Division I, House of Representatives, Committees\t, Legislative, New Hampshire","taxId",17750,"location","New Hampshire","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6646786,"DHHS public health services budget largely federal; committee presses on staffing and program moves",6843,92000,6935000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2528106-3fcec428c636bddd56327c25f281c942&start=92&end=6935","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2528106-3fcec428c636bddd56327c25f281c942/thumbnail_92000.jpg","/articles/6646786/New-Hampshire/DHHS-public-health-services-budget-largely-federal-committee-presses-on-staffing-and-program-moves","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6646786-6348a75bbcac97534275c7ba6eb3ba99/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199020&Signature=IKWCaGnxYetmFCalIl0KPueRVITMsYtnvTerwH83KXelbrVcyDAFnUIkCovEBMZEEkDwuauEgruach0Pq0iefyzdU68P43vYww1mQzvT3wjA27hBRSaGqSkzVs4z3zyL2A83y6~CdoOHpi33zpLdh1y9XRnsSMCBP840HOk3umPuvQYHIcXBH9wukX-lhmoV8t9Knjqt09ViR7Fwq8EQ2dpRSsqoLnwiCpF0e43NO5cT87Hjt4odxX0MgihXfm5I4I4RdwzED5WvZvxqnmo517NUoUv3xQj3pI8iIJU-J~4yJrIypABehtfFCRAPyEMy5tQgxLelY1Hs95GmVoEvIw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Division of Public Health Services’ budget is small in state general‑fund terms but complex, department officials told the House Finance Division’s Division I work session on the division’s operating budget.

The division’s operations are funded mostly by federal grants and other dedicated revenue; the governor’s recommended operating budget shows roughly $24 million in general funds for the division compared with about $135 million in federal funds, and public health constitutes around 2.2 percent of DHHS general‑fund operating spending, Nathan White, chief financial officer for the Department of Health and Human Services, said.

That disparity helps explain why Division of Public Health Services staff focused much of their briefing on grant dependencies, position counts and how programs were reorganized within DHHS. The division contains about 100 accounting units and more than 50 federal grants, making the appropriation highly segmented and sensitive to federal policy changes, Associate Deputy Commissioner Patricia (Tricia) Tilley said.

Lawmakers sought clarity on several recurring themes: (1) how public health’s budget changed since the pre‑pandemic period; (2) which programs were relocated from other DHHS divisions into public health; and (3) how hiring is being handled while many positions are unfunded.

Tilley said public health’s authorized full‑time staff count is roughly the same as it was in 2018 (about 250 positions), but that federal “tsunami” dollars during the pandemic temporarily expanded what the division could do. Some apparent increases resulted from consolidation — for example, the bureau for emergency preparedness, response and recovery and certain programs previously budgeted under Economic Security or DCYF were moved into Public Health Services, creating the appearance of budget growth when the departmentwide total remained similar.

On personnel, the division reported roughly a 15 percent vacancy rate across its programs. White and Tilley explained that a chapter‑law cap on total DHHS full‑time authorized positions (3,000) will expire June 30, 2025, and that the governor’s operating budget includes unfunded positions that the department plans to manage via flexibility authorities enacted in last year’s HB 2 (authority to fill previously unfunded positions and to move funds between personnel lines).

Members asked whether the division can advertise more recruitments than it has current funding to fill. Tilley said the standard rule is that positions must generally be funded before posting, but DCYF and others have used administrative approaches to advertise additional vacancies; the department will explore expanding those approaches in coordination with the Department of Administrative Services.

Lawmakers also requested that, as the presenters move through individual accounting units in the briefing book, they call out when a program has been moved (for example, from DCYF or Division for Economic Security) and the rationale for the relocation; Tilley agreed to do so.

Ending: Committee members flagged staffing, grant dependence, and program relocations as items for continued oversight as they consider adjustments to the governor’s recommendation during the budget process.","The Division of Public Health Services’ budget is small in state general‑fund terms but complex, department officials told the House Finance Division’s Division I work session on the division’s operating budget.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6646771,"Therapeutic cannabis program reaches about 15,000 registrants; state keeps regulatory and testing role",370,2260000,2630000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2528106-3fcec428c636bddd56327c25f281c942&start=2260&end=2630","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2528106-3fcec428c636bddd56327c25f281c942/thumbnail_2260000.jpg","/articles/6646771/New-Hampshire/Therapeutic-cannabis-program-reaches-about-15000-registrants-state-keeps-regulatory-and-testing-role","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6646771-80ec46f782315d0767934180515e4557/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199020&Signature=SgFr43GRce-7x7ccIdEnhdZtAU5AVpAv9vKfTG-oKCIO6APyCAz1RyhysoaAAIOl182XFBiyRXcFzX-COtepdmVvWymOtfEpWUtXuY7uDep33~OWIeF0e4JL4MLecLVyrrGjuEuRaowaxpe0Un3QJRjXCEU5LIwr3Q7Ep2blP50Ie8VW~W4xb4nPAaGFLF09u30keAYSR0gdBLoMd4LFebRZKsJsRzO3IQWx4A52tYXeJCh2Tg4wyq7KLCnBmENoBfvBqqyjWU9bAdATfGCsx8rNyCGj3--Td2VsUL4cHtRFoqbVe2I-nti8dSTb3KcI8usLxeLKbKljaelPOcPttA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","New Hampshire’s therapeutic cannabis program is administered within the Division of Public Health Services and — officials told the House Finance Division — is self‑funded by patient registration fees and assessments from registered Alternative Treatment Centers (ATCs).

The division said roughly 15,000 Granite Staters were enrolled in the therapeutic registry. The program’s operating costs in the budget are not general funds and are covered by patient fees and statute‑authorized ATC assessments, Tilley said. The department also described the program’s regulatory role: testing and oversight intended to assure program participants that product is not adulterated and that doses match labeling.

Legislators asked about the program’s structure and possible privatization. Tilley said New Hampshire’s therapeutic program is comparatively conservative and restrictive and that privatization or spinning the program out of state government would raise questions about the continuity of regulatory controls and diversion prevention; the department retains investigative and laboratory oversight to ensure product safety and chain‑of‑custody for testing.

Members also asked about access (three ATC entities operate seven retail locations, with the state roughly divided into four service areas) and whether mobile ATCs would improve access; Tilley said a mobile model would raise security and diversion concerns but that the idea could be evaluated if statutory safeguards were added.

Ending: Lawmakers and the department agreed to continue watching program enrollment, provider coverage and whether statutory changes would be needed for any future privatization or access expansions.","Tilley told lawmakers the therapeutic cannabis program is self‑funded through registration fees and ATC assessments, serves about 15,000 registered patients, and remains under state oversight for product safety and testing; officials said program rules and access remain more restrictive than most states.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6646776,"Committee hears lead prevention work; officials say housing remains leading source of childhood lead exposures",579,4064000,4643000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2528106-3fcec428c636bddd56327c25f281c942&start=4064&end=4643","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2528106-3fcec428c636bddd56327c25f281c942/thumbnail_4064000.jpg","/articles/6646776/New-Hampshire/Committee-hears-lead-prevention-work-officials-say-housing-remains-leading-source-of-childhood-lead-exposures","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6646776-1b424216a9cb2b3598bda6154d7a5874/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199020&Signature=Gf2oaw8bw6LdTaLCe4ydsBhRZVNkIdh3clklxzfMDVuykOkL-HlXJbhXwcbc7Sv5DIJcMKu87qXTJ3DhTt43wo6KS5JHGn52r8Js6jeTLd4fPbS1Mjmi5FCf66~WYwSFwMd0id7LcYZuBu0yaWG4I4hWuFF~bWgTwdmZEl77rJxzNV2kVcxSK~BV3k1576v6Xtpzw7lt4ge6Tv41OaOw1gCYmpbLwVSMG~uxRWWQU3a56JpuDHwaJk2s46s3fSDkrswWxQL-UMdUxJQIV2wla9kb69PrrPlJLovfsw0na0mo9i6TABJIs-IHhuz6tykhsYmdbIBC7UH-jWlJ~QBBxg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","New Hampshire’s Division of Public Health Services briefed lawmakers on its lead poisoning prevention work, describing screening, nurse case management and remediation supports for families whose children have elevated blood lead levels.

Tilley said the division processed more than 28,000 blood lead results for adults and children and has nurse case managers who provide case follow‑up for children whose blood lead levels exceed action thresholds. The division works with the Department of Environmental Services on remediation funding and is using multiple funding streams — CDC funds, federal public health infrastructure grants and a preventative services block grant — to support surveillance, licensing and legal work tied to lead prevention and abatement for childcare settings.

Members noted that children on Medicaid are roughly twice as likely to have elevated lead levels. Tilley said increased detection between 2021 and 2023 likely reflects improved screening rates as well as heightened outreach; she also said the primary source in New Hampshire is lead paint and older housing stock, particularly where renovations create dust that young children ingest through hand‑to‑mouth behavior.

The division said it inspects rental properties and can issue orders for remediation; it also provides outreach and remediation support for homeowners. Members asked about the number of nursing staff and whether childhood elevated lead counts are trending down; Tilley said 2024 data had not been fully analyzed at the time of the briefing but noted the department is expanding screening and follow‑up work.

Ending: Legislators signaled interest in more trend data, the screening rate for target groups (for example, Medicaid‑enrolled children), and the budget items that support remediation and nurse case management.","Officials told the committee that New Hampshire continues lead screening and remediation work focused on children; data shows elevated blood lead cases rose as screening returned post‑pandemic. Staff outlined nurse case management, inspections and remediation supports for renters and homeowners.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6646781,"State public health laboratory flagged arsenic in packaged juice, maintains water, shellfish and PFAS programs",10522,1850000,12372000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2528106-3fcec428c636bddd56327c25f281c942&start=1850&end=12372","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2528106-3fcec428c636bddd56327c25f281c942/thumbnail_1850000.jpg","/articles/6646781/New-Hampshire/State-public-health-laboratory-flagged-arsenic-in-packaged-juice-maintains-water-shellfish-and-PFAS-programs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6646781-c0e4a277c87af78478fe0c8776520829/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199020&Signature=kNEiaBa9N5zMQ-ZszA8lKa-5DLVXFPSObg1CzP5QukJufrg9n7R79qvMvuH7jMJSLWp8hdPsoghRG~CdHzHnfsjjnRvptxf0ZNm9wYspozpfMRGRcX9DGV1FtCuL7Nacawc~OBJN1ZK5KcKkeozAkXz1XH6qQYTxJNRNrOToLSOVk8ocC50H~8iw~~EdC6uv1nA7UAsmiSvbGl6xwdQbj6Zi8SXy463XjrKnDoWmPXSbSuA2JVIM4fGhBTwIFbkllo0UoaPRmkfJ4OG0Imk3Q2vc7SDso8ZPzgo5O577ngcufS3O5e8Ac~FrOtjtyr-jkGFyqoIeId2I~yeguPqoig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","New Hampshire’s state public health laboratory performs high‑volume and varied testing that department staff say plays a recurring role in consumer safety, disease surveillance and emergency response.

The division told the Finance Division that in 2024 the laboratory tested more than 16,000 water samples — including roughly 2,500 private well samples — and that the lab’s chemistry work identified arsenic in a boxed apple juice product that led to a recall of more than 14,000 cases distributed across 26 states. The detection, Tilley said, underscores the lab’s role in protecting children and other consumers from adulterated food and beverage products.

Officials also briefed members on other laboratory functions: microbiology and chemical testing of foods (including dairy and shellfish), a wastewater surveillance program for respiratory pathogens, testing tied to PFAS investigations in drinking water funded in part by the Department of Environmental Services, and a radiochemistry capability used in certain emergency responses. The lab also conducts radon and lead‑related analyses and performs animal rabies testing in partnership with fish and game authorities.

Tilley and lab staff described surge and contracting strategies used to meet short‑term demand. During COVID‑era expansions the lab relied on temporary hiring and specialized contracts; some disease‑oriented federal grants (for example, the epidemiology and laboratory capacity, ELC, awards) later contracted and the laboratory has maintained a mix of permanent staff and contract capacity to flex up for emergencies.

Committee members asked whether the lab or the division tracks the results of free radon test kits distributed to residents; Tilley said the program distributes tests but does not require users to report back results, though the division will provide outreach and mitigation guidance when tests indicate elevated readings. Members also discussed PFAS testing in private wells and schools; Tilley said the department partners with DES, which funds remediation work for schools while DHHS has focused on childcare testing and follow‑up.

Ending: Legislators said they will examine lab budget lines for equipment and contracts as they consider the governor’s recommendation, emphasizing cross‑agency coordination for PFAS, radon and food safety work.","During the budget briefing, DHHS officials detailed the public health laboratory's testing workload — thousands of water and food samples, wastewater surveillance, PFAS and radon testing — and described a 2024 lab finding that led to a 14,000‑case juice recall.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Officials defend New Hampshire Vaccine Association model; lawmakers press on possible impacts of bill to eliminate it

DHHS public health services budget largely federal; committee presses on staffing and program moves

Therapeutic cannabis program reaches about 15,000 registrants; state keeps regulatory and testing role

Committee hears lead prevention work; officials say housing remains leading source of childhood lead exposures

State public health laboratory flagged arsenic in packaged juice, maintains water, shellfish and PFAS programs