2024 New Hampshire debate involving candidates for governor: Health care access
Updated: 9:32 PM EDT Oct 30, 2024
TO COMPETE FOR THOSE CHAMPIONSHIPS. NEXT QUESTION FROM STEVE BOTTARI. IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS, THE CONCERN ABOUT ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE HAS BEEN GROWING HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. EXETER HOSPITAL HAS BEEN CRITICIZED FOR ANNOUNCING THE ELIMINATION OF MULTIPLE PROGRAMS ON THE HEELS OF THE HOSPITAL BEING ABSORBED BY BETH ISRAEL LAHEY. ELSEWHERE IN LACONIA, RESIDENTS ARE WORRIED THEIR AFTER THE LOSS OF THREE DOCTORS MEANS THAT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE NO LONGER HAVE ACCESS TO PRIMARY CARE. SO AS GOVERNOR, WHAT SPECIFICALLY WOULD YOU DO TO MAKE SURE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE REMAINS? SENATOR AYOTTE, TO YOU FIRST, I THINK IT’S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE ACCESS THROUGHOUT THE STATE. SO WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR CRITICAL ACCESS HOSPITALS IN THE MORE RURAL PARTS OF OUR STATE. WE ALSO, I THINK WHEN WE WHEN WE LOOK AT THESE MERGERS, FOR EXAMPLE, A NONPROFIT FOR PROFIT BUYING A NONPROFIT, WE HAVE TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT THEY HAVE SAID. I KNOW THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS REVIEWING ALSO ANOTHER ANOTHER TRANSACTION NOW, BUT I THINK IT’S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THEY’RE HELD ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE MENTAL HEALTH THAT SHOULD CONTINUE BECAUSE WE NEED WE ALSO NEED MORE HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS. SO MAKING SURE THAT THERE’S A STRONG COMMITMENT TO KEEPING THOSE PROVIDERS HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, GROWING THEM. BUT MOST OF ALL, THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF COVERING THE ENTIRE STATE AND MAKING SURE THAT THE RURAL AREAS ARE ALSO COVERED. AND I’VE GOTTEN TO VISIT MANY OF THOSE RURAL HOSPITALS RIGHT NOW. THERE’S AN ISSUE ON THE UNCOMPENSATED CARE AND I WILL BE MAKING SURE THAT WE RESOLVE THAT ISSUE IN A WAY THAT PROTECTS NOT ONLY THE THE HOSPITALS, BUT RURAL CARE AND MAKING SURE THAT WE’RE SERVING PEOPLE IN THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE. MAYOR CRAIG, HOW WOULD YOU MAKE SURE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE REMAINS? SO AS MAYOR OF MANCHESTER, I WORKED WITH TWO OF THE LARGEST HOSPITALS IN OUR STATE. WE WORKED CLOSELY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE PROVIDING SERVICES NECESSARY TO OUR RESIDENTS AND RESIDENTS ACROSS THE STATE, AND I WOULD TAKE THAT LEARNING TO THE STATE LEVEL WHEN IT COMES TO THESE MERGERS, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE BEFORE THE DOCUMENTS ARE SIGNED THAT NO HEALTH CARE SERVICES WILL BE ELIMINATED. AND WE DO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE ACROSS OUR ENTIRE STATE. WE KNOW THAT ATTRACTING AND RETAINING MEDICAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IS A CHALLENGE, RIGHT NOW, SO WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT DEBT ISSUES WITH DOING AWAY WITH DEBT OR COLLEGE REIMBURSEMENT AND SO FORTH. BUT I WILL GO BACK TO SOMETHING THAT I SAID EARLIER, BECAUSE IT HAS COME UP AT A ROUNDTABLE THAT I HAD THE FACT THAT THE ABORTION BAN IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, CRIMINALLY AND CIVILLY HOLDS DOCTORS LIABLE IS PREVENTING DOCTORS FROM WANTING TO BE HERE. THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. AND MY OPPONENT IS NOT WILLING TO CHANGE THAT. IT IS HAVING AN IMPACT ON MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS WANTING TO BE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE BECAUSE THEY CAN’T PROVIDE POTENTIALLY, THE SERVICES THAT ARE NECESSARY, AND THAT’S WRONG. SENATOR, WILL YOU CHANGE THAT PART OF THE LAW? I’VE ALREADY SAID CLEARLY BEFORE THIS HAS COME UP IN OTHER DEBATES. IF THERE IS AN ISSUE I HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE OF ONE, I’LL ADDRESS IT. THIS IS IMPORTANT AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DOCTORS KNOW CLEARLY HOW TO, THAT THEY’RE ABLE TO OPERATE IN THIS STATE, BUT ALSO THAT WE RECRUIT NEW DOCTORS AND NURSES. SO THERE’S SOME GREAT PROGRAMS THAT ARE HAPPENING. FOR EXAMPLE, AT RIVIERA COLLEGE, OTHER PLACES IN THE STATE ON NU
2024 New Hampshire debate involving candidates for governor: Health care access
Updated: 9:32 PM EDT Oct 30, 2024
At their Granite State Debate, New Hampshire gubernatorial candidates Kelly Ayotte and Joyce Craig discuss what they specifically would do to protect health care access in the state.
At their Granite State Debate, New Hampshire gubernatorial candidates Kelly Ayotte and Joyce Craig discuss what they specifically would do to protect health care access in the state.