LITTLETON, N.H. (WCAX) – New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte says federal funding could be in the pipeline to improve rural health care across the region. It comes as hospitals brace for deep cuts to Medicaid that the experts say could leave millions uninsured.
Ayotte and other speakers attended a health care summit in Littleton on Thursday that focused on the challenges and opportunities facing rural hospitals across the region
On Littleton’s bustling Main Street — home to the world’s longest candy counter — we met James Harris, who recently had a health scare getting winded while he walked. But he also worries about pending cuts to programs like Medicaid, which were signed into law by President Trump in the “Big Beautiful Bill.” “If they are going to chip away on things like that, then I am not going to be able to afford it, and I will be my own doctor. I am afraid,” Harris said.
But federal officials say additional health care funds are being allocated to offset some of the future cuts. “New Hampshire is set to receive, potentially, at least $100 million each year for a five year period,” said Henry Lipman, the state’s Medicaid director. He says $50 billion in the spending bill has been set aside for the Rural Health Transformation Program, which targets communities in northern New England where access to health care has unique challenges. “To strengthen the workforce, to strengthen the services that are available, to bring technology to connect to the large areas.”
The summit, hosted by New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte, brought together industry stakeholders from doctors to mental health providers to help write the grant application that the Granite State will be submitting in November. “And we want to make sure that we put the best proposal possible to Washington to maximize the opportunity to help support all of you,” Ayotte said.
And ultimately support patients like James Harris, who isn’t as winded these days after slight changes to his diet. “What else can I say. I try to live better, and it seems to have made a difference,” he said.
Vermont is also applying for the funding. Gov. Ayotte says she has spoken to Vermont Gov. Phil Scott about finding ways to collaborate to improve care across the region.
