State Overview: New Hampshire

State law or statute prohibits or limits the use of prior authorization for buprenorphine containing products by either the state Medicaid plan or private insurance companies.

When SUD services are covered by a health benefit plan, a health carrier shall be required to offer at least one medication-assisted treatment therapy option approved by the FDA for treatment of substance use disorders without a requirement for prior authorization. A carrier shall not require a renewal of a prior authorization for a medication-assisted treatment therapy for treatment of substance use disorders more frequently than once every 12 months. N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §420-J:18

New Hampshire credentials two types of addiction counselors. A Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor requires, at minimum, an associate degree, 270 hours of relevant education courses and 6,000 hours of experience. A higher-level degree can substitute the number of hours (i.e. a person with a bachelor's degree needs 4,000 hours). A Master Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor requires a master's degree, 270 hours of relevant education courses and 3,000 hours of experience. N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §330-C and New Hampshire Board of Licensing for Alcohol and Other Drug Use Professionals

Mental health counselors evaluate, interpret, diagnosis human behavior using psychological and systems principles, methods to help behavioral health and mental health. Counselors also diagnosis and treat the psychological and social aspects of physical illness, accident, injury or disability as well as mental and emotional disorders. N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §330-A:2(VI)

State law establishes the certification process for peer recovery support workers and includes experience, education, and examination requirements. N.H. Alc. Admin Code §301.01, et seq.

Full independent practice and prescriptive authority.

NMs are licensed by the New Hampshire State Board of Nursing. An APRN shall practice within standards consistent with standards established by a national credentialing or certification body recognized by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing and approved by the board in the appropriate APRN role and specialty. The APRN shall consult with other providers as appropriate.

Full independent prescribing authority. An APRN shall have plenary authority to possess, compound, prescribe, administer, and dispense and distribute to clients controlled and non-controlled drugs within the scope of the APRN's practice. N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §326-B:11.III

Full independent practice and prescriptive authority.

NPs are licensed by the New Hampshire State Board of Nursing. An APRN shall practice within standards consistent with standards established by a national credentialing or certification body recognized by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing and approved by the board in the appropriate APRN role and specialty. The APRN shall consult with other providers as appropriate.

Full independent prescribing authority. An APRN shall have plenary authority to possess, compound, prescribe, administer, and dispense and distribute to clients controlled and non-controlled drugs within the scope of the APRN's practice. N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §326-B:11.III

Providers, including physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, or physician assistants, are authorized to sign POLST forms. N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §137-L

NPs are recognized in state policy as primary care providers. Health care professionals qualified to be considered primary care providers include advanced registered nurse practitioners licensed by the New Hampshire board of nursing in the advance practice categories of family practice, internal medicine or pediatrics. N.H. Ins. Admin. Code §2701.05

Optometrists may only perform procedures related to foreign body removal and the examination, evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of the human eye. N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §327:1-IV

Optometrists may only administer medication by injection to counter anaphylaxis or an anaphylactic reaction. N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §327:6-aV

Optometrists may prescribe Schedule III-V controlled substances. N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §327:1-III

A Certified Public Health Dental Hygienist may perform any procedure that is within the scope of practice that has been authorized under public health supervision, provided the dentist has reviewed the records once in a 12-month period. They must meet certain educational requirements. N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §317-A:21-e

Statute does not identify dental therapists as an oral health provider.

New Hampshire does not explicitly allow for the practice of teledentistry.

Pharmacists may administer a COVID-19 vaccine and must notify the patient's primary care physician. N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §318:16-b

New Hampshire does not allow pharmacists to modify prescriptions.

A physician or a nurse practitioner may delegate limited prescriptive authority so that a pharmacist may dispense oral contraception. A pharmacist must complete an educational training program related to hormonal contraceptives. A pharmacist must provide the patient with a standardized information sheet that includes the importance of follow-up care and health care referral information. N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §318:47-1

Pharmacists may provide nicotine cessation therapy and must provide each recipient of nicotine cessation therapy with a standardized information sheet written in plain language, which shall include, but is not limited to, the indication for the use of the nicotine cessation therapy, the importance of follow-up care, and health care referral information. N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §318:47-m

Collaboration allowed with a physician for practice and prescriptive authority.

A PA shall engage in practice as a PA in this state only if the PA has entered into a written collaboration agreement with a sole practice physician or a physician representing a group or health system so long as the sole practitioner or at least one physician in the group or health system practices in a similar area of medicine as the physician assistant, and is a licensed New Hampshire physician. N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §328-D:3-b

A PA may prescribe, dispense, order, administer, and procure drugs and medical devices. PAs may plan and initiate a therapeutic regimen that includes ordering and prescribing nonpharmacological interventions, including but not limited to durable medical equipment, nutrition, blood and blood products, and diagnostic support services including but not limited to home healthcare, hospice, and physical and occupational therapy. The prescribing and dispensing of drugs shall include any medications that may be dispensed by a physician. N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §328-D:3-b

Statute does not limit the number of PAs a physician may supervise.

A physician shall not be the Registered Supervisory Physician for more PAs than are authorized by institutional policy or clinical guidelines established and regulated at the practice level. N.H. Med. Admin. Code §602.02

Chart co-signatures may be determined at the practice level.

The Registered Supervisory Physician and PA shall establish a process to assess the physician assistant's performance that is commensurate with the PA's level of experience, education and training. N.H. Med. Admin. Code §602.01(c)

Statute allows adaptable proximity.

A collaborative agreement shall include the following: A statement that although collaboration occurs between the PA and physicians and other health care professionals, a physician shall be accessible for consultation in person, by telephone, or electronic means at all times when a PA is practicing. N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §328-D:3-b

The PA's scope of practice is determined in an agreement with the registered supervising physician. The PA's scope of practice is limited to that of the supervising physician. N.H. Med. Admin. Code §603