SB123 Requiring coverage of ear acupuncture as a treatment for substance misuse under the state Medicaid plan.
Requiring coverage of ear acupuncture as a treatment for substance misuse under the state Medicaid plan.
Impact Score — How Does This Bill Affect You?
Overall Impact Score
Mixed
Scale: 1 (harmful) to 10 (beneficial)
Your Wallet
Modest Medicaid cost increase, but effective substance misuse treatment saves money by reducing emergency room visits, incarceration, and lost productivity.
Your Community
NH has been severely impacted by the opioid crisis. Any evidence-based expansion of treatment options could save lives and help communities recover.
Your Freedom
Expands treatment choices for people struggling with addiction, giving them more options for recovery.
Status
Pending Motion OT3rdg; 01/29/2026; Senate Journal 2
Sponsor
Victoria Sullivan (R)
The Short Version
Mandates Medicaid coverage for auricular (ear) acupuncture as a substance misuse treatment. Pending final passage. Expands treatment options for addiction, which is a major crisis in NH.
Who's Behind This Bill?
Who Benefits
- ▲ People struggling with substance misuse
- ▲ Medicaid recipients seeking addiction treatment
- ▲ Communities affected by the opioid crisis
Who Pays the Price
- ▼ State Medicaid budget
- ▼ Skeptics of acupuncture as evidence-based treatment
Bill statuses as of May 2026. Check LegiScan or NH General Court for the latest.
This bill was auto-scored using AI analysis of the bill text and legislative data. Scores may be refined as we review more bills.