Health

Former COVID-19 czar: The virus ‘new normal’ points to larger public health mission

BY: - September 29, 2023

With COVID-19 still a public health reality but no longer considered a public health emergency, it’s time for policymakers, health care systems, and the public to think more broadly about public health, a former White House COVID-19 czar said Thursday. There is a new normal, said Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the school of public […]

A Massachusetts abortion rights group sets its eyes on New Hampshire

BY: - September 26, 2023

A group that’s long advocated for access to abortion and reproductive health care in Massachusetts is expanding into New Hampshire and Connecticut.   Christina Warriner, state director of the New Hampshire chapter of Reproductive Equity Now, said the group will invest in engaging and educating voters about what it sees as threats to reproductive health care […]

State urges schools, parents to take flu season seriously

BY: - September 25, 2023

The days of COVID-19 remote learning are years in the past. But with flu season beginning and winter around the corner, New Hampshire officials are urging parents to be mindful of respiratory illnesses – including coronavirus. Last week, the New Hampshire Department of Education distributed a guidance document to schools for parents, teachers, and school […]

Shaheen goes around Executive Council again, this time to restore sex ed

BY: - September 22, 2023

For a second time, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen has helped secure federal dollars to work around three Republican executive councilors to restore a community sex education program they defunded in November. Shaheen announced Thursday that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will provide direct funding to the TLC Family Resource Center in Claremont and […]

A new home under construction

Funding will add 114 beds for people who need intensive care for disabilities, brain injuries

BY: - September 22, 2023

The Department of Health and Human Services plans to use $2.1 million of federal funding to expand housing for people with disabilities or traumatic brain injuries who are at risk of homelessness or out-of-state placement. The Executive Council approved the department’s request to provide four organizations grants to buy or renovate properties in Keene, Weare, […]

Half a million people nationwide lost Medicaid but shouldn’t have. NH is correcting it.

BY: - September 21, 2023

Federal Medicaid officials announced Thursday that nearly 500,000 people nationwide have improperly lost their Medicaid insurance under what they called a “system glitch” that disenrolled people who remained eligible.  The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services did not report how many people were disenrolled in New Hampshire, but State Medicaid Director Henry Lipman told the […]

Nearly 3,180 Granite Staters get Medicaid back under new federal guidance

BY: - September 21, 2023

The state Department of Health and Human Services has reinstated Medicaid insurance for 3,176 people, including 1,351 children, based on new eligibility guidance from the federal government. The change will also allow nearly 1,200 people who are up for renewal in October to keep their Medicaid, said Medicaid Director Henry Lipman. “We certainly see this […]

Looking for the latest COVID-19 vaccine in New Hampshire?

BY: - September 19, 2023

Walgreens began administering the updated COVID-19 vaccine on Monday. Rite Aid is scheduling appointments that start on Friday. CVS locations will have the vaccine available early this week, according to its spokesperson. All three pharmacies are encouraging people to book an appointment online at walgreens.com, riteaid.com/pharmacy/scheduler, or cvs.com. Customers can schedule a flu vaccine for […]

Equality Health Center

Council could get rejected family planning contracts for a fifth time

BY: - September 18, 2023

This story was updated on Sept. 19, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. to clarify that Planned Parenthood of Northern New England can apply for state family planning funding but not additional federal funding. The state’s Family Planning Program, which provides more than 17,000 Granite Staters low-cost basic health care, such as STI testing and treatment, cancer […]

Child advocate has lawmakers rethinking abuse, neglect placements

BY: - September 7, 2023

It looks certain that New Hampshire lawmakers will introduce legislation next week that would tighten the state’s ability to place neglected and abused children in institutional settings when their own homes are unsafe. The inspiration? A pair of reports from the state’s child advocate detailing her concerns about Bledsoe Youth Academy, a Gallatin, Tennessee, facility […]

At NH’s first recovery church, a bridge between addiction and faith

BY: - September 6, 2023

When Pastor Junior Saint Val took to the microphone at the Wednesday evening service, he said the bright lights on stage made him feel like he was getting arrested again. Laughs and nods came from the 200 or so attendees seated at long communal tables, interspersed with fresh cut flowers in glass jars and paper […]

Some kids get dental care in school. Advocates aim to make that universal.

BY: - September 5, 2023

Nearly 30 years ago, a group of hygienists, school nurses, and dentists in greater Derry grew concerned that students were coming to school with such painful tooth decay they were missing class. If kids weren’t getting to the dentist, they asked, could dental care come to kids? With help from a local funder and some […]