FRANCONIA, N.H. — For Susan Bushby, a long-time patient at the local health center, the recent closure of the Ammonoosuc Community Health Services has left her in distress. The 70-year-old housekeeper, along with nearly 1,400 other patients, now faces a daunting trek of at least 10 miles to the nearest health facility after the center ceased operations last month.
Staff members were not just colleagues; they were part of a close-knit community for Bushby and her neighbors, often celebrating birthdays and shared experiences. With its closing, they worry about the loss of those essential connections, especially for the elderly population who have built lifelong relationships with their healthcare providers.
The closure reflects wider issues in rural healthcare amid cuts to Medicaid, impacting many low-income Americans. Patients like Marsha Luce are concerned about the implications for their loved ones; her husband, a cancer survivor with heart problems, now faces longer wait times and the challenge of re-establishing care.
New Hampshire Senator Maggie Hassan expressed alarm over the wave of healthcare facility closures, emphasizing that without funding support, rural areas may soon face a substantial healthcare crisis. This, paired with the ongoing financial difficulties of community health centers, indicates a troubling trend as more facilities struggle to remain operational.
As discussions continue around healthcare policy, the Franconia center's closure might be a cautionary tale of what lies ahead if support and funding for rural health systems continue to decrease.
