Julianna Chrostowski

Dear Members of the House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee, I am writing to express my strong support for Senate Bill 498, which seeks to close the private insurance coverage gap for children’s behavioral health care coordination in New Hampshire. Families navigating a child’s behavioral health needs are often faced with overwhelming complexity. Coordinating care between providers, schools, and support systems is not optional—it is essential. Without effective care coordination, even the most well-intentioned services can become fragmented, delayed, or inaccessible, ultimately worsening outcomes for children and increasing stress on families. Currently, many families are left without coverage for these critical coordination services simply because of the type of insurance they carry. This creates an inequitable system where access to comprehensive care depends not on need, but on insurance structure. SB 498 addresses this gap by ensuring that all children, regardless of their insurance, can benefit from coordinated, integrated behavioral health support. Care coordination helps families: • Navigate complex systems of care • Reduce duplication and inefficiencies in treatment • Improve communication between providers and caregivers • Ensure earlier intervention and more consistent support These are not luxury services, they are foundational to effective behavioral health care. Investing in care coordination also has broader system benefits. When children receive timely and well-coordinated support, it can reduce emergency interventions, hospitalizations, and long-term system involvement. This not only improves quality of life for children and families, but also leads to more sustainable use of healthcare resources. As someone who understands the real challenges families face in accessing behavioral health services, I strongly urge you to support SB 498. This bill represents a meaningful step toward a more equitable, effective, and compassionate system of care for New Hampshire’s children. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Julianna Chrostowski Manchester, NH 03109