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I. What are the licensure requirements in New Hampshire for telehealth mental health care?

New Hampshire’s licensure requirements state that all health professionals must obtain a license from one of the boards within the Division of Health Professions unless another legal provision states otherwise. The exception is if a physician outside of New Hampshire is providing limited consulting services to a New Hampshire resident.

Requirements for out-of-state treatment

New Hampshire belongs to the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, which means doctors licensed in New Hampshire may treat patients in other member states without obtaining multiple licenses. The Granite State also participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact and the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact, giving nurses and mental health professionals additional flexibility. Participation in these compacts ensures people in other member states have access to high-quality teletherapy, counseling, and other telehealth services.

Emergency licensure

In emergency situations, New Hampshire officials may waive certain requirements to ensure residents have timely access to medical and mental health care. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Christopher T. Sununu signed an order allowing licensed health care providers from other states to provide telehealth services to residents of New Hampshire without obtaining a New Hampshire license. All practitioners must provide evidence that they have a current license in good standing in another state.

II. What are the online prescribing regulations in New Hampshire?

New Hampshire requires all physicians to establish a physician-patient relationship before engaging in electronic prescribing. A physician-patient relationship can be established with a history and physical performed via two-way communication technology. The requirement is waived if the prescriber is ordering medication to be used on a short-term basis until the patient’s first appointment. Telehealth providers aren’t permitted to use online prescribing for drugs on Schedules II, III, or IV, with the exception of some medications used to treat substance use disorders. Methadone isn’t included in this exception, so you’ll need to have an in-person visit to obtain a methadone prescription.

III. What are other common telehealth restrictions in New Hampshire?

New Hampshire has several restrictions on the delivery of telehealth services. These restrictions are meant to protect New Hampshire residents and ensure health professionals are providing high-quality care. Before you schedule an appointment, learn more about the types of services allowed, the types of providers who can offer telehealth services, and relevant emergency allowances.

Types of telehealth services allowed

New Hampshire allows providers to deliver telehealth services via live video and store-and-forward technology. Live video allows you and your provider to see and hear each other at the same time during an encounter. Store-and-forward technology refers to the use of technology to review medical records, access laboratory results, and perform similar services. Remote health monitoring is allowed if you have an established face-to-face relationship with a health care provider at an originating site.

Types of providers allowed to offer telehealth services

Many providers are allowed to offer telehealth services in the state of New Hampshire. These providers include physicians, certified registered nurse anesthetists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, registered dietitians, and nurse midwives. Mental health professionals are also allowed to use telehealth technology to work with their patients. This includes psychologists, alcohol and drug counselors, community mental health providers, and other mental health practitioners. As a result, you may be able to obtain online therapy if needed.

Emergency allowances

To ensure that New Hampshire residents can get the care they need during the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Sununu issued Emergency Order #8 on March 18, 2020. According to the emergency order, New Hampshire health insurance companies must cover telehealth services delivered via live video, one-way technology (e.g., telephone), or electronic media, provided the services are medically necessary. Insurers must continue to follow the order until it’s rescinded or the public health emergency comes to an end.

IV. Telehealth provider resources in New Hampshire

Due to advances in technology, the telemedicine laws change regularly. To find the most current information for New Hampshire, visit the Center for Connected Health Policy website. If you have any concerns about a telehealth provider or insurance company operating within the state, reach out to one of the following resources.

New Hampshire Board of Medicine

The New Hampshire Board of Medicine protects residents by regulating the practice of physicians and physician assistants within the state. To practice in the Granite State, a physician or physician assistant must obtain an initial license and then renew it every two years. The New Hampshire Board of Medicine is responsible for collecting application and renewal fees, issuing licenses, and initiating disciplinary proceedings when warranted. If you need to file a complaint against any type of medical doctor, including a psychiatrist, download a complaint form and submit it as soon as possible.

Contact Information: Website | 603-271-2152

New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services operates several units responsible for ensuring that state residents have access to health care and other necessary services. One of the most important is the Bureau of Health Facilities Administration, which licenses health facilities and conducts inspections of all facilities that participate in Medicaid and/or Medicare. The Bureau also investigates complaints related to health facilities, including hospitals, laboratories, and ambulatory surgery centers.

Contact Information: Website | 603-271-9499

New Hampshire Insurance Department

The New Hampshire Insurance Department oversees several types of insurance companies operating within the state, including health insurance and life insurance providers. If you believe your health insurance company is violating any New Hampshire laws, you can submit a complaint via the Department’s website. You can also find information on what to do if your insurance company denies a claim for a service you believe should have been covered.

Contact Information: Website | 603-271-2261

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LCSW

Caitlin Kingston is a licensed clinical social worker at Yale New Haven Hospital and has worked in the field since 2013. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Penn State University and her Master of Social Work, clinical/medical social work in 2020 from Fordham University. Her licenses and certifications include LCSW, LMSW, and CASAC.

Kingston has always had a passion for helping others and knew early on that she wanted to support others in her profession. During her undergraduate studies at Penn State, she met a social worker who inspired her to pursue a career as a therapist. She’s also trained in psychoanalytic psychotherapy with the New York School for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy. Kingston completed internships working in an after-school program with underprivileged youth and their families and with inmates in the high-security sector of Rikers Island jail.

Kingston’s career has included work at a drug treatment center, where she became the supervisor of intake and assessment for individuals with alcohol and substance use disorders. Today, she’s a social worker in the Psychiatric Observation Unit of the emergency department. Kingston is also trained in perinatal mental health with a focus on helping new mothers adjust to motherhood, especially in these very difficult times of isolation.

author-img
LCSW

Caitlin Kingston is a licensed clinical social worker at Yale New Haven Hospital and has worked in the field since 2013. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Penn State University and her Master of Social Work, clinical/medical social work in 2020 from Fordham University. Her licenses and certifications include LCSW, LMSW, and CASAC.

Kingston has always had a passion for helping others and knew early on that she wanted to support others in her profession. During her undergraduate studies at Penn State, she met a social worker who inspired her to pursue a career as a therapist. She’s also trained in psychoanalytic psychotherapy with the New York School for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy. Kingston completed internships working in an after-school program with underprivileged youth and their families and with inmates in the high-security sector of Rikers Island jail.

Kingston’s career has included work at a drug treatment center, where she became the supervisor of intake and assessment for individuals with alcohol and substance use disorders. Today, she’s a social worker in the Psychiatric Observation Unit of the emergency department. Kingston is also trained in perinatal mental health with a focus on helping new mothers adjust to motherhood, especially in these very difficult times of isolation.

V. Sources