CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A new law that expands mental health services in New Hampshire to comply with a court settlement is a good start but more work must be done.
The law authorizes expenditure of $11 million in state and federal funds to strengthen community-based mental health services and provide coverage to thousands of people under the bipartisan health care expansion plan.
A federal lawsuit charged the state with needlessly confining people in mental wards and hospitals because it lacked community treatment options.
Gov. Maggie Hassan signed the bill into law on Friday as Amanda Dube, one of the lead plaintiffs in the lawsuit, looked on.
Hassan and others said the law will help provide services but that more needs to be done to ensure quality care for mentally ill people.
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