What’s going on in New Hampshire Health Care

As the House of Representative pushes forward this week with the largest proposed Medicaid cuts in U.S. history—slashing $700 billion over ten years to fund tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy—New Hampshire health leaders are sounding the alarm. At a press conference hosted by Protect Our Care NH, experts warned that these cuts would devastate care for more than 200,000 Granite Staters, gut rural hospitals, and create a health care crisis across the state., Christin H. D’Ovidio, Founder and Principal at Putney Consulting LLC, and Sam Burgess., Health Care Policy Coordinator at New Futures, joined Protect Our Care New Hampshire to respond to the House proposal’s potential impact on the Granite State.

As New Hampshire faces proposed cuts to Medicaid and ongoing health workforce shortages, state health leaders gathered today to issue a clear warning: systemic health disparities are putting entire communities at risk—and efforts to undermine Medicaid will only make things worse. At a virtual press event hosted by Protect Our Care NH, speakers called attention to the disproportionate impact of these disparities on communities of color, rural residents, and low-income families across the Granite State. From maternal health deserts in the North Country to rising chronic disease rates in underserved neighborhoods of Manchester and Nashua, the message was clear: access to care is not equal, and the consequences are felt across our schools, workplaces, and economy.

The event marked the end of  Medicaid Awareness Month and called attention to the ongoing health disparities affecting communities of color and underserved regions across the state. The call featured Dr. Marie-Elizabeth Ramas, a family physician and health equity advocate with expertise in community medicine and public health policy. She currently serves as President-Elect of the New Hampshire Medical Society and a Board Member of the Endowment for Health. She is a key voice in addressing structural disparities in care across the state. And, Christin D’Ovidio, MFA, CCPH, the founder of Putney Consulting, where she specializes in public communication for behavior change around critical public health issues. She is also a board member of the Social Marketing Association of North America and a nationally recognized expert in public health media strategy.

As rural hospitals across New Hampshire brace for the impact of proposed federal Medicaid cuts, health care leaders are sounding the alarm: Without action, entire communities could lose access to critical services. At a virtual Protect Our Care NH press event on Monday, public health experts and frontline providers warned that reductions to Medicaid funding could accelerate the collapse of New Hampshire’s rural health infrastructure—leaving seniors, veterans, mothers, and people with disabilities with nowhere to turn.

Speakers included Samuel Burgess, Health Care Policy Coordinator at New Futures; Tess Stack Kuenning, President and CEO of Bi-State Primary Care Association; and Ed Shanshala, CEO of Ammonoosuc Community Health Services. The panel focused on the urgent need to preserve and strengthen Medicaid in the face of potential federal funding cuts and ongoing economic uncertainty.

New Hampshire has roughly 13% of its population enrolled in Medicaid. In rural areas, these funds support critical services such as home-based care for seniors, supplemental coverage for veterans, and maternity services in areas already facing care deserts. The speakers cautioned that proposed funding reductions could widen existing health disparities, jeopardize services at rural hospitals, and strain providers already working at capacity.

Today, Phil Sletten – Research Director, New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute and  Lisa Beaudoin – Disability policy professional, Strategies for Disability Equity  joined Protect Our Care NH to highlight the devastating impact of proposed Medicaid funding cuts on New Hampshire’s families, hospitals, and state budget. The discussion focused on how block grants, spending caps, and restrictive reporting measures could force the state to absorb up to $493 million annually in lost federal Medicaid funds, putting essential health care services at risk.

Speakers emphasized that these cuts would leave children, people with disabilities, and working families without access to the care they rely on while deepening New Hampshire’s budget shortfall. With rising health care costs already straining state resources, these cuts could jeopardize hospital funding, increase uncompensated care, and create a crisis for rural health providers.

Our CNH/POC News series looking at healthcare, cost, access and our economy

New Hampshire's Healthcare Future at a Crossroads

Healthcare access and affordability are at the center of an urgent conversation in New Hampshire. A new report from the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute reveals that proposed Medicaid policy changes could cost the state nearly $493 million annually—a staggering figure with widespread implications.

In this episode, we sit down with Phil Sletten, Research Director at NHFPI, to break down where these costs would come from, which communities would be most affected, and what these shifts mean for hospitals, healthcare providers, and the state's economy.

What happens when Medicaid policies change? How do these shifts impact not only low-income residents but the entire healthcare system? And what strategies could policymakers consider to protect access to care while maintaining financial stability?

Join us as we dive into the numbers, the human impact, and the policy solutions that could shape New Hampshire’s healthcare future.

Without Congressional action, enhanced health care tax credits that have helped thousands of Granite Staters afford coverage will expire after 2025, leading to higher costs for families and individuals across New Hampshire, according to Phil Sletten, Research Director at the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute (NHFPI).

If these tax credits expire, families across New Hampshire will face devastating premium hikes, forcing many to forgo coverage and lose access to routine and preventive care.  

“The tax credits created under the Affordable Care Act and expanded through the American Rescue Plan Act and the Inflation Reduction Act have been critical in making health insurance more affordable for many New Hampshire families,” said Sletten. “These credits help people who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but still struggle to afford coverage. If they expire, many families will see significant increases in their monthly insurance costs.”

On Monday, March 24, Edward D. Shanshala, Lisa Beaudoin, and Jake Berry joined Protect Our Care NH to highlight ongoing threats to American healthcare as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marks its 15th anniversary.

For over a decade, millions of Americans have gained quality, affordable healthcare through the ACA. Today, more Granite Staters have coverage than ever before, and insurance rates statewide are at record highs. Yet there are those in Congress who support efforts to undermine this progress, aiming to remove vital tax credits that help New Hampshire families save thousands annually and proposing to slash Medicaid funding by at least $880 billion—putting healthcare at risk for working families and vulnerable populations statewide.

Need Help?

• If you need help with Medicaid, call Medicaid Program Client Services at (800) 852-3345, ext. 4344 (TDD Access Relay (800) 735-2964). Hours are 8:00 A.M. – 4:30 P.M., Monday through Friday. 

• If you need enrollment assistance, reach out to a Navigator, enrollment assister, or insurance agent through the Find Local Help tool on HealthCare.gov. 

• Contact the NH Insurance Department with any other questions or concerns you may have at 1-800-852-3416 or by email at consumerservices@ins.nh.gov.