AGP Executive Report

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.

Substance Use Care in Pregnancy: Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center plans to use $900,000 in federal funds to create an inpatient substance use treatment program inside its birthing pavilion, including redesigned rooms for safe withdrawal management and staff training, with input from former patients and recovery support doulas. Aviation Safety: A small Sonex plane crashed at Jaffrey Airport during takeoff; the 75-year-old pilot was injured and flown to UMass Worcester, and the FAA is investigating after reports of engine power loss. Medicaid Work Requirements: Nebraska’s early experience with stricter Medicaid work rules shows enrollment drops, raising concerns that similar changes could push eligible people out of coverage in other states. Social Security Worry: A new analysis warns the retirement trust fund could run out by 2032, triggering automatic benefit cuts averaging about $500 per month nationwide. PFAS and Drinking Water: Advocates say the Trump EPA is rolling back safeguards that limit “forever chemicals,” arguing the changes could increase exposure for families and kids in New Hampshire and beyond. Community Health & Wellness: Laconia Public Library highlights June programs, including a presentation on the common loon and a new art exhibit.

Social Security warning: A new analysis says the retirement trust fund could run out by 2032, triggering automatic benefit cuts averaging about $500 a month—an issue that could hit nearly 1 million people in Alabama and tens of millions nationwide. Aviation & safety: A small plane crash during takeoff at Jaffrey Airport sent the 75-year-old pilot to UMass Memorial Medical Center after a propeller issue. Public health & environment: Vermont officials are urging people not to disturb spawning sea lamprey in Connecticut River waterways, noting the fish’s conservation value to both Vermont and New Hampshire. Care access & aging: A UNH-funded caregiver robot is helping a Durham family support a man recovering from a traumatic brain injury, highlighting growing home-care tech as staffing shortages deepen. Maternal health: A new national report ranks New Hampshire No. 1 for having a baby, citing stronger maternal care access and postpartum support. Community wellness: The NH Food Bank and ApprenticeshipNH launched a paid Preparation Cook Registered Apprenticeship to build local workforce capacity in food service and nutrition-related careers. Health policy & costs: Granite State Poll results show most NH residents view AI’s overall impact negatively, but optimism is highest for medical care.

Caregiving Tech: A UNH-funded “hello robot” is helping a Durham man with a traumatic brain injury follow an exercise routine at home, offering a glimpse of how robots may ease caregiver shortages. Substance Use Treatment: Dartmouth Health will use $900,000 in federal funds to build an inpatient substance use disorder program inside its birthing pavilion at DHMC, with staff training and redesigned rooms for safer withdrawal care. Workforce & Food Safety: ApprenticeshipNH and Manchester Community College, with the NH Food Bank, launched a one-year paid Preparation Cook Registered Apprenticeship to train restaurant and commercial kitchen workers. Public Health & Outdoors: State officials reminded Granite Staters to avoid disturbing spawning sea lamprey, while separate coverage highlights tick and cyanobacteria risks in NH waters and yards. Health Policy Oversight: Gov. and Council leaders pushed for continued oversight of North Country Healthcare and vigilance around the Connecticut Lakes Headwaters Working Forest sale. Justice Update: A Portsmouth man, Daniel Jolly, was arrested and charged in the 1993 homicide of Maine woman Maxine Bitomski, after decades and renewed DNA testing.

Teen “takeover” prep at Nantasket Beach: Hull police say they’re boosting staffing and patrols Friday, June 5, after social media posts flagged a possible large teen gathering, with zero tolerance for alcohol, disorder, and parking/traffic violations. Maternal addiction care at DHMC: Dartmouth Health plans to use $900,000 in federal funds to build an inpatient substance use treatment program inside the birthing pavilion at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, including safe withdrawal management rooms and staff training. Tick and Lyme season guidance: A new push highlights how ticks hitchhike into yards via wildlife and pets, with ongoing yard maintenance and pet treatment key to prevention as tick activity rises. Cold case arrest with health ties: Maine authorities arrested Portsmouth resident Daniel Jolly in the 1993 homicide of Kittery’s Maxine Bitomski; investigators say he knew her through a Portsmouth medical supply job, and DNA work reopened the case. Food allergy recall: FDA reports a Birch Benders sweet potato pancake/waffle mix recall at the highest risk level after undeclared egg was found on ingredient lists. Nursing home snapshot (NH): CMS data spotlight multiple facilities’ bed size and ratings across counties in early 2026, underscoring ongoing scrutiny of long-term care quality.

Weight-loss meds: A new analysis finds people often regain weight much faster after stopping GLP-1s, with projected return to baseline about 1.5 years sooner than with behavioral programs—fueling interest in strategies to prevent regain. Nursing homes in NH: CMS data spotlights several large local facilities in Q1 2026, including Glencliff Home for the Elderly (2/5), Dover Center for Health & Rehabilitation (2/5), Southern New Hampshire Rehabilitation & Healthcare (1/5), Edgewood Centre (3/5), Epsom Healthcare Center (3/5), and a five-star Saint Ann Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. Lake health: Officials say cyanobacteria blooms on Swains Lake make swimming unsafe, warning of symptoms that can affect people and pets. Tick-borne illness push: Federal health officials announced new Lyme and tick-bite initiatives, including work targeting alpha-gal syndrome in hard-hit states like New Hampshire. Care access pressure: A national report flags hundreds of rural hospitals at risk of closure, raising concerns about longer travel times for emergency care. Community health: The American Red Cross and WMUR are running a statewide blood drive Friday with multiple NH locations.

Lyme/tick response: HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visited New Hampshire to unveil new federal actions aimed at cutting Lyme disease and addressing tick-borne illness risks, including research and prevention efforts tied to Lyme and alpha-gal. Nursing home watch: CMS data highlighted top-performing NH facilities in Q1 2026, including Golden View Health Care Center (5-star, Belknap), Rockingham County Nursing Home (4-star), and Hillsborough County Nursing Home (5-star), alongside lower-rated homes such as Jaffrey Rehabilitation and Nursing Center (1-star). Immigration & health workforce pipeline: Sen. Jeanne Shaheen warned a New Hampshire university could lose up to 2,000 international graduate students if DHS doesn’t approve a pending doctoral program application by July 1. Community health supports: Winnisquam Regional High’s “Second Chance Breakfast” program earned state recognition for boosting student wellness and participation. Local health-adjacent policy: A proposed data center in Nottingham triggered strong community opposition and was withdrawn “for now,” reflecting how local decisions can affect community planning and services.

Nursing Home Watch (CMS Q1 2026): Cheshire County Home in Keene led the county with 150 beds and a 4/5 CMS rating, while Jaffrey Rehabilitation and Nursing Center lagged at a 1/5 rating. In Strafford County, Riverside Rest Home ranked largest with 215 beds and a 4/5 rating, and Langdon Place of Dover also earned 4/5. Tick & Mosquito Safety: New Hampshire DHHS reminded residents that tick and mosquito bite risk is rising with warmer weather, highlighting Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses, plus EEE and West Nile from mosquitoes. Lyme Funding Push: HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visited New Hampshire to roll out federal efforts aimed at Lyme disease and alpha-gal, citing high local rates and new research and prevention plans. PFAS & Drinking Water: New Hampshire continues PFAS cleanup work, with reporting focused on how “forever chemicals” spread through drinking water and what residents can do to reduce exposure. VA Care in Manchester: VA leadership said upgrades for the Manchester VA Medical Center remain a priority, with Congress needed to approve funding. Health Data Privacy: A state lawmaker raised concerns about Fitbit’s transition to Google Health, saying New Hampshire requires explicit consent for sharing health data. Access & Mobility: A DHS approval delay could jeopardize up to 2,000 international graduate students at a New Hampshire university tied to a new doctoral program.

Lyme & tick prevention: HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced a major federal push to reduce Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses, including a $2.5 million investment and a pilot aimed at lowering tick populations before they spread disease—coming as New Hampshire faces high tick risk this June. PFAS “forever chemicals”: A New Hampshire Public Radio report explains how PFAS show up in drinking water and everyday products, why they persist in the body, and practical ways to cut exposure. Water policy in court: The Ninth Circuit vacated an order requiring the EPA to regulate fluoridation risks under TSCA, sending the case back for further review. Childcare squeeze: A new NH Fiscal Policy Institute report finds families are paying more for childcare while quality options shrink, with costs consuming far more than federal affordability targets. Public health in schools: New Hampshire’s Executive Councilor Stephen highlighted CPR training for students, with hundreds completing hands-only CPR at Parkside Junior High. Blood supply: The Red Cross is urging New Hampshire donors to book appointments ahead of a statewide blood drive to prevent a summer shortage. Safety reminders: NH Fish and Game reported a serious Deerfield UTV rollover involving minors, stressing helmet use for under-18 riders.

Tick-borne health alert: HHS and CDC announced a new federal push to cut Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses, including a pilot to reduce ticks on animals before they bite people—an effort highlighted during a New Hampshire visit. Lyme debate at the State House: Democratic congressional candidate Stefany Shaheen criticized HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s comments about public health trust, arguing his stance fuels vaccine skepticism. Tick bite surge: CDC data show emergency room visits for tick bites are at their highest for this time of year since 2017, with warmer conditions driving more activity in the Northeast and Midwest. Outdoor water safety: New Hampshire is again warning residents about possible cyanobacteria blooms at several southern lakes and ponds, urging people to check the state “Healthy Swimmer” map before entering the water. Community health & care: A UNH-funded home-care robot is helping an aging couple stay in their home longer, pointing to growing interest in in-home support as caregiver shortages rise. Injury prevention: Multiple NH outdoor crash reports this week—trail bike and ATV incidents—underscore helmet use and safer riding.