US EditionPublished • loading... • Updated
What to know about the impacts Medicaid cuts are having on rural health care
Medicaid reimbursement cuts caused a $500,000 shortfall forcing closures of health centers serving 1,400 mostly older, sicker patients in rural White Mountains communities.
- Ammonoosuc Community Health Services' Franconia clinic shut its doors on Oct. 23, 2025, after serving 1,400 patients, with officials and a Democratic senator blaming Medicaid cuts.
- Ed Shanshala, CEO of Ammonoosuc Community Health Services, said funding shortfalls from Medicaid cuts caused a $500,000 gap, forcing the closure of Franconia to save about $250,000.
- Many patients served are older, sicker and live far apart in the White Mountains; residents of Franconia, Easton, Lincoln and Sugar Hill must now travel at least 10 miles to the nearest health center, while NACHC reports nearly half of centers hold under 90 days cash.
- Local leaders, including Jill Brewer, fear the closure signals a collapse of regional health services as patients like Susan Bushby face longer waits and disrupted care continuity.
- Projections show at least 2 million center patients could lose Medicaid by 2034, while federally funded centers still face financial strain treating 1 in 10 Americans, the National Association of Community Health Centers said.
Insights by Ground AI
23 Articles
23 Articles
Coverage Details
Total News Sources23
Leaning Left7Leaning Right2Center12Last UpdatedBias Distribution57% Center
Bias Distribution
- 57% of the sources are Center
57% Center
L 33%
C 57%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
