The recent Upper Valley Community Health Needs Assessment, which can be viewed on the Dartmouth Hitchcock website, has highlighted something that, unfortunately, we know all too well. Affordability and accessibility of health care is not uniformly available to all. At the Good Neighbor Health Clinics, we regularly see patients who turn to us for free care and dental services because their limited incomes are forcing hard choices around gas, food and rent.
The reasons for the need are numerous, including the complexity of insurance plans, lack of primary care providers, and the cost of care. In addition to shining a light on this issue and suggesting that universal health care or Medicare for All are among the possible solutions, we are encouraged that the New Hampshire state legislature is moving forward with SB 422 which, if passed, will provide a limited dental benefit for Medicaid enrollees. Lack of dental coverage for those on Medicaid represents a significant health risk factor as well as a profound impact on quality of life. The proposed legislation would help provide for a brighter future for the most vulnerable among us. On behalf of those we serve, Dana Michalovic, executive director of Good Neighbor Health Clinics, and I, are encouraging Governor Sununu to sign this important legislation if it lands on his desk.
Chris Dugan
Lebanon