New Hampshire Secures $500 Million for Rural Health Care Expansion

New Hampshire stands to receive up to $500 million in federal funds aimed at strengthening rural health care services. This significant funding opportunity comes in response to anticipated cuts to Medicaid as part of the federal budget. Governor Kelly Ayotte is spearheading efforts to ensure that the state maximizes its share of these federal resources, which will be available over the next five years.

During a summit in Littleton on Thursday, Ayotte outlined the strategy for securing the necessary funding. The distribution of these funds will ultimately be determined by the Trump Administration. According to Ayotte, Mehmet Oz, the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, emphasized the need for sustainability in health care initiatives. “He’s looking for things – as we look to maximize the dollars for New Hampshire, for all of you to help you do what you do,” she stated.

The funding is part of the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program, a crucial component of the tax cut and spending bill introduced by President Donald Trump. Given that rural hospitals rely heavily on Medicaid, the proposed cuts necessitated compensation measures. Nonetheless, hospital officials caution that even if New Hampshire successfully accesses the entirety of the new funding, it will not alleviate the escalating issue of uncompensated care.

Steve Ahnen, president of the New Hampshire Hospital Association, noted, “Those challenges are significant and will certainly continue. This rural transformation fund does provide an opportunity to help address some of those shortcomings. Certainly, it is not going to solve all of those problems.”

To gain access to these funds, states are required to demonstrate plans for improving health outcomes, utilizing innovative technology, and identifying factors that could lead to rural hospital closures. Executive Councilor Karen Liot Hill emphasized the importance of submitting a compelling application, stating, “We really need to make sure that we get a strong application put together and that we don’t leave any funds on the table.”

Providers in the North Country expressed their gratitude for any financial assistance that could be made available. Dr. Debbie Warner remarked, “Everything that we’re doing is under compensated, from the insurance and as well as any other way.”

As New Hampshire moves forward with its plans for rural health care enhancement, stakeholders are hopeful that these federal funds will provide critical support to address ongoing challenges in the region’s health care system.