For people in this New England mountain town, a health center’s closure leaves unanswered questions

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Category: Health

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. take comfort in / teɪk ˈkʌm fərt ɪn / (idiom) – to feel better or less sad because of a certain fact, idea, or situation
    Example:

    She took comfort in knowing that her friends were there to help her.


  2. wilderness / ˈwɪl dər nəs / (n.) – a large area of land where there are no towns, no farms, and very few people; usually a place with forests, mountains, deserts, or wild animals
    Example:

    The hikers explored the mountain wilderness.


  3. bump into (someone) / bʌmp ˈɪn tu / (phrasal v.) – to meet someone by accident, without planning to see them
    Example:

    I kept bumping into old classmates at the shopping mall today.


  4. for good / fər gʊd / (idiom) – forever, permanently, or not coming back again
    Example:

    Last year, the old library closed for good.


  5. spike / spaɪk / (n.) – a sudden, sharp, and often large increase in something
    Example:

    Doctors saw a spike in flu cases last winter.


Article

Read the text below.

For more than two decades, Susan Bushby, a 70-year-old housekeeper from a rural ski town in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, took comfort in knowing she only had a short drive to reach the community health center.


The lodge-like medical building, which sits on a hill overlooking town, was like a second home for Bushby and many other patients. The front desk staff knew their names and never missed a chance to celebrate a birthday or anniversary. Staff photos of the wilderness that make this place such a draw hung on the walls, and bumping into a neighbor in the waiting room was routine.


But last October, this site of the Ammonoosuc Community Health Services in Franconia, a town of around 1,000 people, closed for good.


Officials blamed cuts in Medicaid, the federal program that millions of low-income Americans rely on for healthcare. The 1,400 patients, almost half of them older and some facing serious health challenges like cancer and early-stage dementia, must now drive at least 10 miles along rural roads to reach the nearest health center, which is also near a regional hospital. A second center is twice as far.


The closure of the Franconia center reflects the financial struggles facing community health centers and rural healthcare systems more broadly amid Medicaid cuts and a feared spike in health insurance rates. The government shutdown, which ended in November, was driven by a Democratic demand to extend tax credits, which ensure low- and middle-income people can afford health insurance through the Affordable Care Act, or ACA.


Marsha Luce, whose family moved from the Washington, D.C. area in 2000, is especially concerned about the impact on her 72-year-old husband, a former volunteer firefighter who has had an ear and part of his jaw removed due to cancer. He also has heart and memory issues.


She worries about longer waits to see his doctor, Dr. Melissa Buddensee, and the loss of relationships built up over decades in Franconia.


“I know specifically for Kirk, it’s, it’s going to be a harder one because he, he likes dealing with Dr. Buddensee himself.”


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • Susan Bushby and other patients felt the Franconia health center was like a second home. Why do you think having a nearby health center can make patients feel more comfortable? How would your life change if your local clinic closed for good? Discuss.
  • Marsha Luce worries about losing the personal relationship her husband had with Dr. Buddensee. How important is it to have a doctor who knows you personally? In your opinion, can personal relationships with medical staff affect the quality of care? Why or why not? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • Medicaid cuts were blamed for the health center’s closure. What problems can happen to people who need help if the government gives less money to health programs? What do you think can be done to help them? Do you think healthcare should be considered a right or a privilege? Why? Discuss.
  • The health center in Franconia was not just a clinic, but a community hub with photos, celebrations, and familiar faces. How can a health center contribute to a community’s identity and spirit? In your opinion, should communities fight to save local services even if they are expensive? Why or why not? Discuss.