High resolution versions of these photos are available here and here.

Colebrook, NH - Today, Rep. Annie Kuster (NH-02) visited the Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital (UCVH) and met with UCVH, Indian Stream Health Center, and North Country Healthcare leadership to receive updates on the region’s continued response to COVID-19. Rep. Kuster has been in regular contact with community leaders throughout the state on how to best support rural health care providers and the dual health emergencies of COVID-19 and substance misuse. 

“Ensuring access to quality, affordable care in rural areas like the North Country was already a challenge, and the COVID-19 pandemic has made it all the more difficult,” said Kuster. “The health care leaders I talked to today are committed to providing Granite Staters with the care they need, while also keeping them safe through the use of services like tele-health appointments – a tool that will remain critical in rural areas even after the pandemic is behind us. I look forward to sharing the insights I heard today with my colleagues as we continue our work to ensure all Americans can get the health services they count on, regardless of their zip code.” 

"Having the opportunity to discuss contemporary issues impacting healthcare delivery in Northern Coos County with Representative Kuster is so important to our community,” said Scott Colby, President and CEO of UCVH. “UCVH and our partners at Indian Stream Health Center continue to manage the effects of the pandemic and are embracing changes in healthcare delivery such as enhanced tele-health capabilities.  Support at the Federal level for these new approaches to healthcare delivery is critical to our ability to meet the needs of our community and can assist in improving access to specialty and behavioral health care."

A member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, Kuster has led efforts in Congress to expand access and parity for tele-health and supported robust funding for our health care system. In March, she joined her colleagues in sending a bipartisan letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell requesting additional resources for rural health care providers during the COVID-19 outbreak. 

###