AGP Executive Report

Tick-borne disease prevention: HHS announced a CDC-led New Hampshire pilot aimed at cutting Lyme disease by reducing tick populations on wildlife hosts like deer and mice, with the goal of lowering cases by 2035 as ER visits for tick bites hit their highest April levels since 2017. Youth gambling risk: As sports betting expands, advocates warn that problem gambling is rising among young adults, fueled by easy mobile access and “risk and reward” features that can pull people into real-money losses. Child health trend: A new Kids Count report finds child well-being deteriorated in 29 states from 2021 to 2025, with declines across education, health, and economic measures and mental health concerns affecting about 12% of kids ages 3–17. Medical marijuana policy: Gov. Kelly Ayotte vetoed a bill that would have let medicinal marijuana dispensaries grow cannabis in on-site greenhouses, saying she doesn’t support expanding cultivation. PFAS health study: ATSDR released results from a large PFAS drinking-water study that included New Hampshire participants, documenting health impacts across multiple body systems. Public safety: A tree fell on a car on Portsmouth’s Route 1 Bypass, sending the driver to the hospital with potentially traumatic injuries.

Child Health Watch: A new Annie E. Casey Foundation Kids Count report says child well-being worsened in 29 states from 2021 to 2025, with declines across health, education, and economic measures; it flags rising child poverty and mental health strain, including anxiety or depression diagnoses for about 12% of kids ages 3–17. PFAS in Focus: The ATSDR released results from its large Multi-Site PFAS Health Study, including New Hampshire participants, linking PFAS exposure to serious health concerns across multiple body systems—at a time when federal drinking-water standards are under pressure. Marijuana Policy: Gov. Kelly Ayotte vetoed a bill that would have let medicinal marijuana dispensaries grow cannabis in on-site greenhouses, saying she doesn’t support expanding cultivation. Therapeutic Cannabis Trends: New Hampshire data shows therapeutic cannabis participation is rising among older adults, with the 56–75 age group driving much of the growth. Public Safety & Health: A 60-foot tree fell on a car on Portsmouth’s Route 1 Bypass, sending the driver to Portsmouth Regional Hospital with potentially traumatic injuries. Local Health Leadership: The late Jim Varnum, former leader at Mary Hitchcock and Dartmouth Hitchcock, is remembered for shaping regional healthcare and Medicaid expansion work.

Child Health Watch: A new Annie E. Casey Foundation Kids Count report says child well-being worsened in 29 states from 2021 to 2025, with steep education declines and rising child poverty, plus more kids without health insurance and ongoing mental health strain. Therapeutic Cannabis in NH: New Hampshire’s therapeutic cannabis program shows growing participation among older adults, even as Gov. Kelly Ayotte vetoed a bill that would have let dispensaries grow in-house to expand supply and lower prices. Opioid Prevention Staffing: DHHS is seeking a new New Hampshire HOPE coordinator to lead a regional coalition focused on prescription opioid misuse, heroin, addiction, and overdose prevention. Heat Safety: With NH summers getting hotter and wetter, a new safety guide highlights what heat warnings mean and how to protect yourself and neighbors during extreme heat. Local Health Spending Snapshot: Medicaid bills for enteral and parenteral therapy in Manchester totaled about $1.43M in 2024, up from 2023. Public Health & Policy: Ayotte also signed 18 bills and vetoed three more, including changes tied to court procedures and animal-related handling, underscoring how state policy can shape health systems.

Child Health Watch: A new Annie E. Casey Foundation Kids Count report says child well-being deteriorated in 29 states from 2021 to 2025, with declines across education, health, and economic measures; it flags rising child poverty, worsening health indicators, and mental health strain (including anxiety/depression diagnoses for 12% of kids ages 3–17). Therapeutic Cannabis in NH: New Hampshire’s therapeutic cannabis program shows participation rising among older adults, with adults 56–75 making up the biggest share of qualifying patients in 2024 and 2025. Heat Safety for NH Summers: With hotter, wetter summers expected, the National Weather Service warns that heat alerts (advisories, watches, warnings) should trigger hydration, cooling plans, and checking on neighbors—since heat is a leading weather-related cause of death. Medicaid Billing Snapshot (Manchester/Salem): Medicaid claims data show Manchester providers billed $1.43M for enteral and parenteral therapy in 2024, while Salem saw a 36.2% jump in ambulance/transport services spending. Tick & Lyme Focus: A national health segment highlights rising tick-bite ER visits and Lyme disease concerns, tying prevention efforts to federal funding goals. Injury & Safety Alerts: NH Fish and Game reports a helmeted 15-year-old with minor injuries after an ATV crash in Lyndeborough, with speed and inexperience cited as key factors.

Affordability & workforce: A New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute analysis warns that steep housing costs are pushing young adults out—nearly 1,000 filers under 26 left in 2024—threatening the state’s ability to attract and keep future generations. Public health—TB spike: CDC provisional data show U.S. tuberculosis cases stayed near a 14-year high, with New Hampshire doubling from 12 to 24 cases in 2025, signaling strain on detection and follow-up. Health access—rural funding: CMS approved New Hampshire’s GO-NORTH rural health budget, sending about $205M annually through 2030 to expand care in underserved areas. Substance use treatment: Gifford Medical Center in Randolph will offer extended-release buprenorphine (Sublocade) in its emergency department to speed access for opioid use disorder patients. Animal welfare & safety: After a Hooksett search warrant, police and the NH SPCA seized dozens of animals from a home with dangerous ammonia levels; the home was deemed uninhabitable. Legal system & child welfare: The NH Supreme Court overturned Adam Montgomery’s murder conviction in Harmony Montgomery’s death, ordering a new murder trial. Community health & prevention: Keene advanced a zoning change to use “functional family” definitions, shifting occupancy concerns toward building and safety rules rather than family status.

Rural Health Funding: CMS approved New Hampshire’s spending plan for GO-NORTH, sending about $205M from the Rural Health Transformation Program and setting up continued funding through 2030 to support rural providers and workforce efforts. Addiction Care Access: Gifford Medical Center in Randolph, Vt., expanded opioid use disorder treatment by offering extended-release buprenorphine (Sublocade) in the emergency department and inpatient unit—aimed at faster, easier starts for patients. Women’s Health & Trauma: A report on menopause symptoms highlights how perimenopause can intensify trauma-related symptoms, linking hot flashes and PTSD resurgence in new research. Public Health Policy: NH’s new needle-exchange reporting law requires syringe service providers to track disposal-to-distribution ratios and offer free disposal sites to reduce used-needle litter. Child Well-Being: New Hampshire again topped the national KIDS COUNT rankings for child well-being, scoring highest overall in the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2026 report. Tech & Patient Consent: A national lawsuit and scrutiny of AI “medical scribes” raises concerns that patients may not be properly asked about recording doctor visits. Safety & Emergencies: A Loudon crash involved five cars after a gas station fire suppression system was accidentally triggered during wiring work, briefly closing Route 106.

Child Health Rankings: New Hampshire again topped the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s KIDS COUNT Data Book for child well-being for the fourth straight year, scoring 838 out of 1,000 and citing gains in school support, more affordable childcare, and access to services. Youth Mental Health Warning: A separate “State of the Nation” report flags New Hampshire as worst for youth depression, with 22% of ages 12–17 reporting a major depressive episode in the past year, with concerns tied to technology and social media. At-Home Care Lawsuit: A federal judge scheduled a Nov. 9 trial over New Hampshire’s Choices for Independence program, with advocates arguing underfunding pushes people toward nursing homes and violates federal disability protections. Public Safety & Health: In a cross-state incident, a Lawrence officer was dragged two blocks during a traffic stop and remains in critical but stable condition; the suspect was arrested in Plaistow, NH. Health Policy & Research: HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he visited New Hampshire amid an “explosion” of alpha-gal syndrome and pointed to tick-control efforts and medication research. Vehicle Safety: Honda recalled 880,514 vehicles nationwide, including models sold in New Hampshire, over possible rear suspension subframe corrosion. Community Support: Mary’s Dogs in Northwood is seeking a new home after a reported 90% rent increase threatens its shelter operations.

Suicide Trends: A new Trust for America’s Health report finds New Hampshire suicide deaths rose 12% from 2023 to 2024, even as the national rate fell—raising questions about what’s driving the state’s outlier trend. Child Health & Family Support: The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s KIDS COUNT Data Book ranks New Hampshire No. 1 for child well-being for a fourth straight year, citing gains like fewer parents without secure employment and more children with health insurance. Public Safety: Police say a man suspected of dragging a Massachusetts officer during a traffic stop was arrested in Plaistow, NH; the officer was seriously injured and flown to a Boston hospital. Outdoor Injury Response: New Hampshire Fish and Game reports a 65-year-old climber from Maine was rescued after a rock dislodged on Cannon Cliff in Franconia; he was carried out and taken to Littleton Regional Hospital. Policy Watch (Energy): Nuclear power dominated Concord’s debate, with bills now heading to Gov. Kelly Ayotte after veto concerns stalled one measure. Community Giving: NH Gives coverage highlights why local news matters to health, education, and other community services.

Child Well-Being Rankings: New Hampshire again tops the KIDS COUNT child well-being list, scoring 838/1,000, with improvements in poverty and teen outcomes even as education and other gaps remain. Local Legal Fight: A Gilford couple is suing police in federal court, alleging unconstitutional searches and arrests during an underage drinking investigation that led to dropped charges and serious injuries. Mental Health Access: Live Free Recovery Services plans to open its first inpatient mental health clinic in Keene next month, adding about 20 beds for conditions including anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and eating disorders. Healthcare Accountability: New York AG Letitia James and partners secured $36.5 million from CVS over Medicaid insulin overbilling, with New Hampshire’s Medicaid programs among those affected. Banking & Housing Credit: NH bankers say fast-moving interest rates are forcing lenders to rethink loan structures, with manufactured homes and ADUs increasingly in focus. New Hampshire Business & Jobs: Analogic opened a new Salem global HQ, consolidating operations and bringing about 500 jobs. Public Health & Ticks: A Lyme-related update from NH lawmakers highlights ongoing tick risk, as cases remain a concern across the region. Aviation Safety: Two people were injured in a plane crash at Plymouth Municipal Airport; the airport temporarily closed while the aircraft was moved.

Medicaid Fraud: New York Attorney General Letitia James and DOJ secured a $36.5 million settlement from CVS over alleged Medicaid overbilling for insulin, including $2.25 million for New York—another reminder that prescription costs can be driven by corporate wrongdoing. Mental Health Access: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Hampshire highlights rising demand for behavioral health care and the navigation barriers families face, calling for faster, better-coordinated access. Lyme & Ticks: State Rep. Lisa Mazur says she met with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Lyme disease efforts as CDC data show tick bites sending more Americans to ERs. Local Eye Care Expansion: Eyesight Ophthalmic Services is moving and expanding its Exeter office to a larger site next to Exeter Hospital, adding capacity and retina services. Violence & Community Impact: An 18-year-old man faces a second-degree murder charge in the Thornton shooting death of his 21-year-old sister, Leah Anderson, a Plymouth State University student; the school is offering support to those affected. Public Health & Prevention: A national report notes opioid overdose deaths in Massachusetts fell to the lowest level in more than a decade, pointing to ongoing progress and the need to sustain it. Community Health Events: NH Gives begins Tuesday, with local news urged as a key part of keeping communities informed about health and wellness resources.

Senior Care Leadership: The Village at White River Junction in Vermont appointed Danielle Nickerson as executive director, bringing nearly a decade of Vermont senior living healthcare leadership and staff development experience. Child Health & Education: New Hampshire again topped national child well-being rankings, but education is slipping—new Kids Count analysis points to weak reading and math proficiency and highlights the lack of state pre-K investment. Child Care Costs: A new NH Fiscal Policy Institute analysis says center-based infant and toddler care costs nearly $30,000 a year in 2025 while licensed providers declined, squeezing family budgets. Public Health Access: Northeast Delta Dental’s veteran dental program, launched in NH in 2015, is helping veterans get care within two weeks through a dedicated phone line and dentist network. Needle Exchange Oversight: NH signed a law requiring syringe service programs to report clean-to-disposed needle ratios and provide free disposal sites, aiming to cut used-needle litter. Community Mental Wellness: Camp Resilience, backed by a Bank of New Hampshire donation, is running a first responder retiree retreat focused on outdoor learning, skills workshops, and peer counseling. Local Giving Push (NH Gives): NH Gives begins Tuesday, with Golden View Health Care Center raising funds for a wheelchair-accessible van and local news urged to support community health and services.

Child Care Costs: A new NH Fiscal Policy Institute analysis finds center-based child care prices in New Hampshire hit about $30,000 a year in 2025 for an infant and 4-year-old, up from roughly $22,500 in 2017, while licensed provider numbers fell by 120 programs (14%). Senior Care Leadership: The Village at White River Junction in Vermont named Danielle Nickerson of Bethel as executive director, bringing nearly a decade of Vermont healthcare and senior living leadership experience. CPR Access: An opinion piece highlights why early chest compressions—hands-only CPR—can double or triple survival odds after sudden cardiac arrest, urging people to act quickly. Public Safety—Trails and Roads: NH Fish and Game is investigating an ATV crash in Berlin that injured two people; officials point to inattention and unreasonable speed. Injury and Emergency Response: Police in Thornton are investigating a shooting that left one person seriously injured and was transported by medical helicopter to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. Child Well-Being Snapshot: National Kids Count data shows child well-being declined from 2019 to 2024, with education setbacks driving much of the drop.

Child Health Watch: A new KIDS COUNT snapshot flags Arkansas’ worsening child well-being, including a near-doubling in uninsured children and fewer preschoolers in early education—an urgent reminder that coverage and early support drive long-term health. Local Food Access: New Hampshire’s Granite State Market Match is back, doubling SNAP/EBT value at participating farmers markets and offering 50% off at farm stands and CSAs, aiming to make fresh produce more affordable. Nursing Home Quality (NH): CMS data highlights how several New Hampshire facilities rank on size and quality metrics in early 2026, including top-rated nonprofit and for-profit nursing homes. Medicaid Spending (NH): Bedford Medicaid bills for procedures/professional services rose in 2024, showing where public health dollars are flowing locally. Public Health & Safety: A Nashua rollover sent one person to a local hospital with serious, non-life-threatening injuries; investigators are still looking into what caused the crash. Workforce & Wellness: A Planet Fitness free summer gym pass program offers Rhode Island teens structured, no-cost fitness access while school activities pause.

Recess as health care: The American Academy of Pediatrics says recess is essential, not a reward—urging schools to stop withholding it for academics or discipline and to protect daily movement for kids’ physical health and stress regulation. Food access in NH: Granite State Market Match is back, doubling SNAP/EBT value at participating farm stands, CSAs, and farmers markets to make fresh local produce more affordable. Medicaid spending in Bedford: A new look at 2024 claims shows Bedford Medicaid providers billed $969,502 for procedures and professional services, up from 2023—an indicator of where public health dollars are going locally. Nursing workforce pay snapshot: A Louisiana-focused salary roundup highlights how RN pay varies by specialty and role, with implications for staffing and retention pressures that many states—including NH—feel. Public health alert—backyard chickens: A CDC-linked salmonella outbreak tied to backyard flocks has spread across many states, with children hit hardest, underscoring the need for safe handling and handwashing. NH healthcare facility ownership: CMS data show Mount Carmel Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Hillsborough County was owned by NH Catholic Charities, Inc. in Q1 2026 and maintained a strong overall rating. Aviation safety: A small plane crash in southern New Hampshire sent the pilot to the hospital, the second recent crash at a NH airport. Community health & wellness: A Dartmouth Hitchcock birthing pavilion is set to launch a drug treatment program for patients, aiming to connect care where families need it most.

Nursing Home Quality in Focus: CMS data show NH Catholic Charities owned Mount Carmel Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Q1 2026, with a strong overall rating of 4 (vs. 2.9 statewide), no fines, and an average daily census of 109.8 residents. Maternal Health + Addiction Care: Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center plans to use $900,000 in federal funds to create an inpatient substance use treatment program inside its birthing pavilion, converting two suites into withdrawal-management rooms and training staff with input from patients and recovery doulas. Food Access for Health: Granite State Market Match is back, doubling SNAP/EBT value at participating NH farmers markets and farm stands to make fresh produce more affordable. Medicaid Spending Watch: In Bedford, Medicaid bills for procedures/professional services rose to $969,502 in 2024, up from $913,844 in 2023. School Health Reminder: The American Academy of Pediatrics reaffirmed that recess is essential for kids’ physical health and stress regulation, warning schools not to remove it for academics or discipline. Tick-Borne Risk Context: HHS launched a major national push against Lyme disease and tick-borne illness as tick activity rises. Aviation Safety: A small plane crash at Jaffrey Airport sent a 75-year-old pilot to a Massachusetts hospital; officials say the engine lost power on takeoff and the FAA is investigating.

Medicaid Spending in Bedford: New federal data show Bedford Medicaid providers billed $969,502 for procedures/professional services in 2024, up 6.1% from 2023—an NH-focused snapshot of how public health dollars move locally. AI Anxiety in the Granite State: A new UNH Granite State Poll finds nearly two-thirds of respondents expect AI to hurt the U.S. economy and society over the next decade, even as more people report using AI tools. Maternal Addiction Care at DHMC: Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center plans to use $900,000 in federal funds to build an inpatient substance use treatment program inside the birthing pavilion, including redesigning two suites for safer withdrawal management. Recess as Health Necessity: The American Academy of Pediatrics updated guidance stressing recess is essential for children’s physical health and stress regulation—pushing back on schools that cut it for academics. PFAS and Drinking Water: NH coverage highlights ongoing PFAS contamination concerns and the push for stronger safeguards and monitoring for exposed communities. Aviation Safety in NH: Two separate small-plane incidents at NH airports sent pilots to hospitals, underscoring ongoing risks during takeoff and landing.