Rural Health Advocates Warn of Crisis Amid Federal Shutdown

The ongoing federal government shutdown is raising significant alarms among rural health advocates in New Hampshire. Concerns are mounting not only over immediate impacts but also the potential long-term consequences of continued funding cutbacks. During a webinar hosted by Protect Our Care New Hampshire, Christin D’Ovidio of Putney Consulting stated, “We’re at this risky point, there are large things that can happen and we’re ill-prepared to handle them at this moment.”

The shutdown has already disrupted essential services, particularly affecting open enrollment for Medicare, which commenced on October 15, 2023. With rising premiums and shifting options, the situation has become increasingly urgent. Jayme Simões, chair of Protect Our Care, emphasized that this is not merely a political standoff but poses a direct threat to the health and stability of families across the state.

Concerns extend beyond Medicare, as programs like Head Start and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) may face cuts if the shutdown persists into November. Both programs rely on annual Congressional appropriations, and their potential reduction could have dire implications for low-income families.

State Representative Janet Lucas, a Democrat from Campton, highlighted a recent incident in which a woman required hospitalization due to challenges in accessing healthcare. “New Hampshire has been defunding some very important programs for so long; it cuts to the bone and beyond,” she noted. Lucas warned that new cuts could jeopardize programs that ultimately save the state money.

The current federal shutdown is rooted in disputes over healthcare premiums for plans purchased through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces. Enhanced tax credits for these premiums are set to expire at the end of the year, leading to projections that premiums could nearly double for many individuals. Last year, over 70,000 people in New Hampshire relied on these tax credits to afford ACA insurance.

The impasse in the U.S. Senate has seen Democrats reject a short-term funding bill proposed by Republicans, which did not extend the enhanced tax credits. Lucas further elaborated on the implications of these funding issues: “We are looking at a degradation of the health system, especially in the northern counties, with the loss of the ACA program.”

Accessing routine prenatal care could become increasingly challenging for women if they are required to undertake two- or three-hour drives to reach healthcare facilities. The burden will shift to communities, which will absorb the costs of care that providers are unable to deliver due to lack of funding.

Lucas pointed out that the absence of support services could lead to worse health outcomes for patients, who may end up in emergency rooms in a more frail and sickly state. “That’s a problem that’s exacerbated in the rural areas of the state,” she said, highlighting the potential for increased costs associated with untreated health issues.

As the federal government shutdown continues, rural health advocates are calling for urgent action to address the situation and safeguard the health services that are essential to communities across New Hampshire. The uncertainty surrounding funding and the implications for vulnerable populations underscore the urgent need for resolution.