NH DHHS Announces Last Scheduled Forum for Public to Comment on Development of Care Management Plan

Forum to be held Thursday in Concord



Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services

(DHHS) is announcing the last scheduled forum for the public to comment on

the State’s Care Management Plan. New Hampshire is moving from its current

Medicaid system to a Managed Care Plan. The forums are an opportunity for

the public to be involved in the design, development and implementation of

the plan.



“We have had tremendous response from the public so far from the forums we

have held around the State,” said DHHS Commissioner Nicholas Toumpas.

“It’s extremely helpful to hear from the public and we appreciate people

making time in their schedules to be part of this process. Transitioning

from our current system to a care management model is a significant

undertaking, we believe that if we are thoughtful in our approach, and if

we listen and engage our stakeholders that we can in fact help improve the

health and well-being of those we serve.”



The last scheduled forum will take place in Concord on Thursday, September

29, 2011 from 1:00-3:00 at the IBEW Hall, located at 48 Airport Road. The

public is welcome to attend.



The forum is a facilitated interactive event that allows participants to

provide input about their expectations, concerns and needs using a mixture

of small group and large group discussions. They are not formal hearings

where participants need to prepare testimony.



For those who are unable to attend the forums, the Department is also

seeking input through an online survey on its website, www.dhhs.nh.gov.

The survey will close October 5, 2011. The public is also invited to send

comments in writing to DHHS Commissioner Nicholas Toumpas, 129 Pleasant St,

Concord, NH 03301.

NH DHHS -CDC Seeks Public Comment on Childhood Vaccination and Meningococcal Disease

Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), will host a public discussion on Wednesday, June 15th about the childhood immunization schedule. The CDC is seeking comments on whether and how to expand the types of information used when considering whether to add a new vaccine to the childhood immunization schedule. The federal Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) will use the information to help determine whether and how additional views from the public and health care providers could be incorporated into the vaccine recommendation process. This discussion in Concord is the first of four meetings taking place around the country.

EVENT: Public Discussion on Childhood Vaccination and Meningococcal Disease
WHEN: Wednesday, June 15, 2011 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
WHERE: 29 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH

NH DHHS - CDC is Seeking Public Comment on Childhood Vaccination and Meningococcal Disease

Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is seeking input surrounding the childhood immunization schedule. Specifically the CDC is seeking comments on whether and how to expand the types of information used when considering whether to add a new vaccine to the childhood immunization schedule. DHHS and the CDC are hosting a meeting in Concord on June 15th to hear from professionals and the general public about this topic.

The public discussion in Concord is one of four meetings happening around the country. The federal Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) will use the information gathered to help determine whether and how additional views from the public and health care providers could be incorporated into the vaccine recommendation process. The basis for the discussion will be new vaccines that have been developed to prevent meningococcal disease in infants and young children.

The facilitated meeting in Concord is intended to solicit views and perspectives on what factors the ACIP and CDC should take into account when developing recommendations for how to best use vaccines that protect children from relatively rare but often very serious diseases. Newly developed meningococcal vaccines, for instance, have the potential to protect infants and very young children from relatively rare, but often very serious, types of meningitis. Attendance at the meeting is limited, and participation is free. Pre-registration is required to participate, and those wishing to attend must attend the meeting for the entire day.

The meeting is at the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health Services, 29 Hazen Drive in Concord on Wednesday, June 15, 2011, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm; registration begins at 8:30 a.m.

To register online: http://keystone.org/registration/concord  

By phone:
1-866-276-7083

By fax:
970-262-0152

This public session is a collaborative effort by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, and The Keystone Center.