BETHLEHEM — The chance to learn more about North Country Healthcare’s inner workings as it relates to services for the people who live in northern New England drew residents to five different locations around Coos and northern Grafton counties for a series of community conversations in the wake of NCH’s outsourcing of how it collects money it is owed.
The Feb. 4 forum held at the Forest Society North at the Rocks drew at least 50 people to its large meeting house. Every table was filled.
kAm}@CE9 r@F?ECJ w62=E942C6 rt~ %@> |66[ r9:67 u:?2?4:2= ~77:46C |2EE96H $EC66E6C[ r9:67 |65:42= ~77:46C |2C< |@C82?[ r9:67 }FCD:?8 ~77:46C %:772?J w2J?6D 2?5 r9:67 x?7@C>2E:@? ~77:46C s2CJ= q@8C2> D2E :? 492:CD 2E @?6 6?5 @7 E96 =2C86 >66E:?8 C@@>[ :? 7C@?E @7 E96 >2?J D>2==6C E23=6D]k^Am
kAm}6H w2>AD9:C6 {:DE6?D[ 9@DE @7 E96 4@>>F?:EJ 4@?G6CD2E:@?D[ :D U=5BF@j2 4@>>F?:EJ 6?8286>6?E :?:E:2E:G6 @7 E96 r6?E6C 7@C t?82865 r@>>F?:E:6D 2E E96 r2CD6J $49@@= @7 !F3=:4 !@=:4J 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 }6H w2>AD9:C6[UC5BF@j 2D :ED H63D:E6 k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^42CD6J]F?9]65FQm42CD6J]F?9]65Fk^2m ?@E6D]k^Am
kAm{2FC6? p?56CD@?[ 5:C64E@C @7 A9:=2?E9C@AJ 2?5 4@>>F?:EJ C6=2E:@?D 7@C }rw 2?5 2 C6AC6D6?E2E:G6 @7 }6H w2>AD9:C6 {:DE6?D 724:=:E2E65 E96 AC@8C2>]k^Am
kAmp3@FE `[`__ 7F==\E:>6 6>A=@J66D H@C< 2E }@CE9 r@F?ECJ w62=E942C6[ H9@D6 @C82?:K2E:@? :?4=F56D (66<D |65:42= r6?E6C :? {2?42DE6C[ p?5C@D4@88:? '2==6J w@DA:E2= :? q6C=:?[ &AA6C r@??64E:4FE '2==6J w@DA:E2= :? r@=63C@@< 2?5 }@CE9 r@F?ECJ w@>6 w62=E9 U2>Aj w@DA:46 p86?4J[ 32D65 :? {:EE=6E@?] %96 9@>6 962=E9 2?5 9@DA:46 286?4J D6CG6D A6@A=6 :? d` r@@D 2?5 ?@CE96C? vC27E@? 4@F?E:6D]k^Am
kAm%6?D:@?D :? E96 4@>>F?:E:6D H96C6 }rw DE277 2?5 E96 C6D:56?ED E96 ?@?\AC@7:E 962=E9 42C6 D6CG6D 2C@D6 H96? 2 $6AE] d[ a_ad[ AC6DD C6=62D6 H2D AF3=:4=J A@DE65] %96 2??@F?46>6?E E@ @FED@FC46 C6G6?F6 >2?286>6?E — H9:49 :?4=F56D 3:== 4@==64E:?8 — H2D >6E H:E9 H@CCJ @7 ;@3 =2J@77D]k^Am
kAmx? E96 6?5[ @?6 A6CD@? H2D =2:5 @77] p44@C5:?8 E@ E96 r2=65@?:2?\#64@C5 ?6HDA2A6C[ b_ }rw 6>A=@J66D H6C6 9:C65 7@C @E96C ;@3D 2E }rw 2?5 b_ 6>A=@J66D G@=F?E2C:=J =67E }rw]k^Am
kAm}rw :D @?6 @7 ?@CE96C? }6H w2>AD9:C6’D =2C86DE 6>A=@J6CD]k^Am
kAmq:==:?8 :DDF6D 2C6 4@>A=:42E65 3J AC:G2E6 2?5 7656C2= :?DFC2?46 4=2:>D 2?5 >@DE 962=E9 42C6 @C82?:K2E:@?D A2CE?6C H:E9 ?2E:@?2= 6IA6CED E@ 5@ E9:D H6==] }@CE9 r@F?ECJ w62=E942C6 H2D ?@E 7F==J DE27765 2?5 5:5 ?@E 92G6 6?@F89 6>A=@J66D :? E96:C =@42= @77:46D E@ 5@ E9:D H@C<[ |66 D2:5]k^Am
kAm"F6DE:@?D 2D<65 7C@> E96 2F5:6?46[ D62E65 2E E96 E23=6D @7 7:G6 E@ D6G6? A6@A=6 6249[ AC@G:565 2?DH6CD E92E 82G6 7FCE96C :?7@C>2E:@? @? =:76 :? 2 CFC2= C68:@?] p?5[ @? A2E:6?EDV C@=6D :? E96:C @H? 962=E9 42C6] {@42= C6D:56?ED[ :?4=F5:?8 =@42= C6D:56?ED H:E9 =6256CD9:A C@=6D :? 5:776C6?E r@@D r@F?EJ E@H?D @C H9@ D6CG6 @? }rw’D 3@2C5 @7 5:C64E@CD[ E2=<65 2>@?8 E96>D6=G6D @? 2 ?F>36C @7 :DDF6D C6=2E65 E@ E96 C68:@?’D 962=E9 42C6 @AE:@?D]k^Am
kAm%96 ?:89E’D D6DD:@? :?4=F565 BF6DE:@?D 3J 2F5:6?46 >6>36CD E@ E96 6?E:C6 8C@FA[ C6G62=:?8 ?665D 7@C A2CE:4F=2C 42C6 2?5 A2J:?8 7@C 42C6] pD 92D 366? D2:5 2E @E96C >66E:?8D :? r@@D r@F?EJ — 7C@> 2 3F586E >66E:?8 :? v@C92> 23@FE EH@ J62CD 28@ E@ E96 u63] c >66E:?8 :? q6E9=696> — r@@D r@F?EJ :D E96 “@=56DE[ D:4<6DE 2?5 A@@C6DE 4@F?EJ :? E96 DE2E6]” ~E96C ?@CE96C? }6H w2>AD9:C6 4@F?E:6D C2?< 9:89 @? E92E =:DE 2?5 DE:==[ r@@D DE:4<D @FE 7@C E9:D C62D@?] xE >256 EH@ BF6DE:@?D E@ |66 E92E >F49 >@C6 A@:8?2?E]k^Am
kAms@6D }@CE9 r@F?ECJ w62=E942C6 92G6 2 86C@?E@=@8:DEn }@[ :E 5@6D?’E]k^Am
kAmr2? 962=E9 42C6 36 @776C65 96C6 =:<6 :E :D :? $H656?[ u:?=2?5[ s6?>2C< 2?5 E96 &?:E65 z:?85@>nk^Am
kAm%96 &]$] 5@6D ?@E 92G6 2 ?2E:@?2= 962=E9 42C6 AC@8C2>[ H92E D@>6 >:89E 42== D@4:2=:K65 >65:4:?6[ =:<6 @E96C :?5FDEC:2=:K65 ?2E:@?D 5@] (92E 2AA62CD 2D 7C66 42C6 :D A2:5 7@C 3J E2I6D :? E9@D6 @E96C ?2E:@?D]k^Am
kAmp A@AF=2C A9JD:4:2? H9@ H2D E6C>:?2E65 C6>2:?65 2 E@A:4 @7 5:D4FDD:@? :? D@>6 @7 E96 D>2== E23=6 5:D4FDD:@?D] u@C E9@D6 :? E96 2F5:6?46 H9@ H6C6 7@C>6C A2E:6?ED @7 E9:D 5@4E@C[ 2E =62DE @?6 A6CD@? :? E96 2F5:6?46 E9@F89E 2 =6EE6C H@F=5 36 D6?E E@ E96> 2=6CE:?8 E96> @7 E96:C ?6H 5@4E@C]k^Am
kAm“(6 5@?’E 2DD:8? WA6CD@?2= 42C6 A9JD:4:2?DX[” |66 D2:5]k^Am
kAm~? E96 ?@?\AC@7:EUCDBF@jD H63D:E6[ k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^?@CE94@F?ECJ962=E9]@C8Qm?@CE94@F?ECJ962=E9]@C8k^2m[ E96C6 :D 2 C@DE6C @7 962=E9\42C6 AC@G:56CD 7C@> H9:49 E@ 49@@D6] !C@G:56CDUCDBF@j 3:@8C2A9:6D 2C6 @? E96 D:E6] xE :D FA E@ C6D:56?ED E@ D6=64E 2 AC@G:56C 2?5 D66 :7 E92E A6CD@? :D 2446AE:?8 ?6H A2E:6?ED]k^Am
kAm~E96C BF6DE:@?D :?4=F565 E96 ?F>36C @7 >65:42= 5@4E@CD W|]s]DX 4@>A2C65 E@ ?FCD6 AC24E:E:@?6CD 2?5 A9JD:4:2? 2DD:DE2?ED] x562==J[ 2 C2E:@ @7 `_ |sD E@ D6G6? ?FCD6 AC24E:E:@?6CD H2D >6?E:@?65] #64CF:E:?8 2?5 C6E2:?:?8 >65:42= AC@76DD:@?2=D :D 5:77:4F=E :? E9:D CFC2= 2C62[ }rw @77:4:2=D D2:5]k^Am
kAm“(6 92G6 ?6G6C DE@AA65 C64CF:E:?8 >65:42= DE277[” |66 D2:5]k^Am
kAmx? yF=J a_af[ }@CE9 r@F?ECJ w62=E942C6’D 72>:=J >65:4:?6 C6D:56?4J :D 6IA64E65 E@ 368:?] xE :D E96 @?=J >65:42= C6D:56?4J — H96C6 ?6H >65:42= D49@@= 8C25F2E6D C646:G6 255:E:@?2= EC2:?:?8 — E92E :D ?@E 277:=:2E65 H:E9 2? 24256>:4 >65:42= 46?E6C]k^Am
kAmu@FC C6D:56?ED H:== 36 D6=64E65 E@ A2CE:4:A2E6 :? E96 E9C66\J62C AC@8C2>] %96 2446AE2?46D H:== 36 DE2886C65 E@ <66A E96 C@E2E:@?D 24E:G6 2?5 D@ E92E ?@E 2== 7@FC 5@4E@CD H:== =62G6 2== 2E @?46]k^Am
kAm“r2? H6 C6E2:? 2== @7 E96>n !C@323=J ?@E[” |66 D2:5] “qFE H6’== 92G6 E96> 7@C E9C66 J62CD] (6 H2?E !r!’D WAC:>2CJ 42C6 A9JD:4:2?DX :? E96 }@CE9 r@F?ECJ]k^Am
kAm~77:4:2=D D2:5 >@C6 5@4E@CD H2?E E@ 36 :? FC32? D6EE:?8D[ 2?5 >@C6 ?FCD6 AC24E:E:@?6CD 2?5 A9JD:4:2? 2DD:DE2?ED AC676C E@ H@C< :? CFC2= 2C62D E@ C2:D6 E96:C 72>:=:6D]k^Am
kAm%92E =65 E@ 2 C6>2C< 3J EH@ @7 E96 AC6D6?E6CD E92E “E96 J249E 4=F3 5@4E@CD 5@?’E H2?E E@ 4@>6 E@ E96 }@CE9 r@F?ECJ] (6 5@?’E 92G6 J249E 4=F3D]” p H@>2? D:EE:?8 :? E96 C62C @7 E96 >66E:?8 9@FD6 2D<65 E96> E@ 6IA=2:? H92E “J249E 4=F3 5@4D” >62?E[ D2J:?8 D96 5:5?’E F?56CDE2?5 E96 E6C>]k^Am
kAm|66 AC65:4ED E96 7FEFC6 9@DA:E2= =2?5D42A6 H:== =@@< BF:E6 5:776C6?E 7C@> H92E :E 5@6D E@52J]k^Am
kAm“qJ a_b_ @C 36J@?5[ x 5@?’E E9:?< H6’== D66 2?J :?56A6?56?E 9@DA:E2=D[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm$E277 2?5 }rw 6>A=@J66D 2== 27764E A2E:6?E 42C6] t=:>:?2E:?8 A2E:6?E 92C> 3J 6>A@H6C:?8 DE277 E@ 36 E96:C @H? A6C7@C>2?46 :>AC@G6>6?E 6?8:?66CD :D 2 E6?6E @7 }rw[ 6IA=2:?65 r9:67 }FCD:?8 ~77:46C %:772?J w2J?6D]k^Am
kAmx? 2 C6=2E65 >2EE6C[ $E2E6 $6?] s2G:5 #@4967@CE W#\{:EE=6E@?X[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 r2=65@?:2?\#64@C5 ?6HDA2A6C[ :D E96 DA@?D@C @7 2 3:== E92E H@F=5 =:>:E A2J C2:D6D @C 3@?FD6D 7@C 6I64FE:G6 @C E@A 25>:?:DEC2E:G6 A6CD@??6= :7 DE277 =2J@77D 2E 2 >65:42= 46?E6C 2C6 >256]k^Am
kAmx? 2 A9@?6 :?E6CG:6H %F6D52J ?:89E[ #@4967@CE D2:5 E96 3:== :D 82:?:?8 :?E6C6DE] |66’D D2=2CJ 2D rt~ H2D BF6DE:@?65 2E E96 q6E9=696> 7@CF>] w6 :D A2:5 2E E96 d_E9 A6C46?E:=6 @C :? E96 >:55=6 @7 H92E @E96C 9@DA:E2= rt~D 2C6 A2:5 6=D6H96C6] |66 :D ?6:E96C E96 9:896DE\A2:5 ?@C E96 =@H6DE 4@>A6?D2E65]k^Am
kAmpEE6?52?46 2E E96 {2?42DE6C 2?5 q6C=:? 7@CF>D H2D ?@E6H@CE9J[ 6DA64:2==J :? {2?42DE6C[ H96C6 23@FE `a_ A6@A=6 2EE6?565 E96 =:DE6?:?8 D6DD:@? 2E {2?42DE6C t=6>6?E2CJ $49@@=[ #@4967@CE D2:5] w6 2EE6?565 3@E9 AC@8C2>D]k^Am
kAm#@4967@CE D2:5 2 >6>36C @7 E96 DE2E6’D s6A2CE>6?E @7 yFDE:46 2EE6?565 E96 >66E:?8D 96 5:5j E96 r92C:E23=6 %CFDED &?:E @7 E96 }6H w2>AD9:C6 pEE@C?6J v6?6C2=’D @77:46 :D =@@<:?8 :?E@ 9@H >F49 >@?6J E96 ?@?\AC@7:E }rw DA6?5D @? >65:42= 42C6 27E6C A2E:6?ED 2?5 D@>6 }rw DE277 C2:D65 4@?46C?D @G6C 9@H E96 962=E9\42C6 @C82?:K2E:@? 7F?4E:@?D]k^Am
kAmuFEFC6 =:DE6?:?8 @C 4@>>F?:EJ\H:56 D6DD:@?D 4@F=5 36 :? E96 H@C<Dj ?@E9:?8 92D J6E 366? 2??@F?465] x?D:89ED 8=62?65 7C@> E96 D6DD:@?D[ H9:49 4@?4=F565 u63] d :? r@=63C@@<[ >2J 724E@C :?E@ E96 962=E9 42C6 6?E:EJ’D ?6IE DE6AD]k^Am
kAmk2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i=:D2o36C=:?52:=JDF?]4@>Qm=:D2o36C=:?52:=JDF?]4@>k^2mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.