(Peterborough, NH) – Today, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) met with hospital leadership at Monadnock Community Hospital to hear about their efforts to increase access to healthcare and substance misuse treatment in New Hampshire’s rural communities. Kuster provided an update to attendees on the $46 million New Hampshire will receive to combat the opioid epidemic as part of efforts by the New Hampshire Congressional Delegation. Kuster also gave updates on the funding from CARA 2.0 and the House Opioids package, H.R. 6, and discussed her recently released Jobs and Opportunity Agenda and its initiatives to support New Hampshire’s healthcare workforce. Monadnock Community Hospital plays a critical role in the healthcare community in the Monadnock Region, offering Medical, Surgical and Intensive Care, Obstetrics, Pediatrics, and Mental Health services, as well as a variety of outpatient services and emergency care.

“Today at Monadnock Community Hospital we had a candid conversation about the challenges facing the region including the opioid epidemic and behavioral health issues, and efforts to bolster our healthcare workforce,” said Kuster. “If we can foster partnerships with healthcare providers and education centers to help train the healthcare workforce of the future, it will support the local economy and bolster our response to the opioid epidemic. I appreciate the opportunity to hear from Monadnock Community Hospital leadership about their work to remove barriers to substance misuse treatment and expand health services in rural areas.”   

"The challenges we face in healthcare today have never been greater,” said Cyndee McGuire, President and CEO of Monadnock Community Hospital. “As healthcare providers we are entrusted with delivering care that is both accessible and excellent. We are vested in our mission of improving the health and wellbeing of our community. We appreciate Congresswoman Kuster’s time, interest and dedication in helping ensure the ongoing availability of local high quality health care, through her efforts toward enhancing the workforce and infrastructure in support of rural communities covered by Critical Access Hospitals such as Monadnock Community Hospital."

In May, Kuster released her Jobs and Opportunity Agenda, which outlines a comprehensive approach to expanding economic opportunity by bolstering apprenticeship and vocational training programs, addressing the out of control costs of higher education, investing in infrastructure and broadband expansion,  increasing affordable housing, and supporting working families with paid family leave and childcare programs.

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