NASHUA, NH – Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (NH-02) met with executives and the medical leadership team of Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Nashua on Monday. Their discussion centered on the so-called “Big, Beautiful Bill,” the recently-passed budget legislation, and the impacts of it on hospital operations and patient care.
Both Goodlander and Pappas voted against the legislation, and they have been vocal critics of the effects it will have on Granite Staters, especially for their healthcare.
They heard the history of the hospital and its roots with the Grey Nuns and their mission of service to those in need. That mission continues today beyond just medical care. They operate a thrift shop, a mobile health clinic that services the unhoused, and partner with the Plus company to reach the greater Nashua community.
To contend with employee housing challenges, the hospital is early in the process of developing housing on its property. The goal is to support their education mission by providing student housing for nursing students.
They are currently negotiating a residency program that would also require housing. “Part of our strategic plan is to secure a sponsoring institution so that we have medical residents here on campus,” said John Jurcyzk, hospital President.
Strategically, the hospital is adjusting its services to meet the needs of the aging New Hampshire population. The recently added a 24-bed geriatric psychiatry unit that the congresspersons toured, and the hospital has recently achieved Level III Geriatric Emergency Department Certification.
In discussing the impacts of the bill Goodlander said, “The bill is so fiscally irresponsible that it triggers $500 billion in mandatory Medicare cuts. I mean, it’s unprecedented. We’ve never seen anything like it. So, we still don’t have a whole clear picture of what that is actually going to be. But I assume it’s going to have an impact nationwide and here.”
With our payer mix, Medicare is the third rail for us. Medicare is now exceeding 50 percent of revenue,” said Jurcyzk. More than half of the current patient population is Medicare dependent, with another 8% receiving Medicaid (from a 17% local average of recipients). The balance of patients are privately insured or part of the charity mission.
The healthcare industry is bracing for the reductions in federal support and the likely closing of healthcare facilities that will result, especially in rural New Hampshire. St. Joe’s is already dealing with the effects of a local hospital closure that may be a harbinger of things to come.
In August of 2024, the Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer, MA, closed its doors due to the bankruptcy of its parent company, Steward Health Care. The closure of the 47-bed facility has increased the demand for emergency and primary care access.
St. Joseph’s is the closest hospital in proximity to that location, and they have been filling the gap in medical care for that community. This year included 500 additional Emergency Department visits and 250 to 300 inpatient admissions attributed to the closure.
In discussing the impacts of the bill, Goodlander said, “The bill is so fiscally irresponsible that it triggers $500 billion in mandatory Medicare cuts. I mean, it’s unprecedented. We’ve never seen anything like it. So, we still don’t have a whole clear picture of what that is actually going to be. But I assume it’s going to have an impact nationwide and here.”
As somber as the discussion was and how daunting the future will be, St. Joseph’s will continue its 118-year tradition of service to the Nashua area.
“We’ve learned a lot from how health care is delivered, frankly, over this time period (since the bill passed), and what’s important right now is we want to stand up for what’s right. The right care, the right place at the right time,” said Congressman Pappas, adding, “Just thanks for continuing to deliver on your mission, and we look to see how you can extend that for the future.”
