Providers warn rural community health care is at risk under cuts to Medicaid in federal budget

MANCHESTER, N.H. —

Rural access to health care is shrinking in New Hampshire, and providers said they're preparing for more cuts included in the recent federal budget.

HealthFirst, a federally qualified health center in Laconia, serves underserved and rural populations.

CEO Ted Bolognani said 30% to 40% of the center's patients are covered by Medicaid, so federal budget changes are already affecting care.

"One of the things we just recently did is we are closing one of our health care facilities," Bolognani said. "We're cutting services, having to stop both our primary care and behavioral health services at our Canaan location."

In addition to access shrinking, the Bi-State Primary Care Association said the changes are creating new gaps in coverage.

Medicaid recipients who cannot mee