
Edward Shanshala, CEO of Ammonoosuc Community Health Services, spoke to listeners on a Zoom call Wednesday about his organization's decision to close its Franconia branch in response to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act's impacts. (Screenshot of Zoom call)
Edward Shanshala, CEO of Ammonoosuc Community Health Services, said when Congress passed its massive tax cuts and spending law last year, he and his colleagues made the difficult decision to shut down the organization’s clinic in Franconia in anticipation of the law’s impacts. Shanshala doesn’t think a new tranche of federal funding will be enough to fully alleviate the pressures his organization is facing.
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