February 14, 2022

**Funding comes following Shaheen and Hassan’s push to support health care centers during ARP negotiations**    

(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) announced that Harbor Care in Nashua will receive $2 million to expand access to quality virtual health care. This funding will support services like telehealth, remote patient monitoring and digital patient tools. Funding comes from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and builds on the over $7.3 billion invested in community health centers through the American Rescue Plan.

“Access to quality health care has never been more important as we continue to battle the COVID crisis, and telehealth is one of the strongest tools at our disposal to connect people with critical health services. That’s why I’m pleased to see this funding strengthen virtual care services for patients in Nashua,” said Senator Shaheen. “I’ll keep working to ensure New Hampshire’s community health centers have the resources they need to modernize equipment and deliver life-saving care to Granite Staters.” 

“The need for telehealth services is not going away, which is why we need to keep working to strengthen these vital services that have made our health care system more accessible for Granite Staters,” Senator Hassan said. “This significant funding to Harbor Care is an important step toward ensuring that all patients can get the care that they need, regardless of where they live or their ability to leave their home. I am grateful to New Hampshire’s health care providers for expanding their virtual care options so quickly amid the pandemic, and I will keep working to support health centers as they work to expand these services into the future.”

“Harbor Care is a vital resource for New Hampshire communities and I’m thrilled federal funding is heading to Nashua to connect Granite Staters with the virtual support services they need,” said Representative Kuster. “From telehealth appointments to remote patient monitoring, these federal dollars will make health care more accessible in underserved communities. I will continue working to ensure every Granite Stater has the tools they need to thrive.”

“Expanding telehealth services and access to remote care is critically important,” said Representative Pappas. “These services have been a lifeline for Granite Staters throughout the pandemic and will help ensure care is accessible to all moving forward. I’ll continue fighting for the priorities that are important to patients and health centers in New Hampshire and am grateful that these targeted funds are being provided.”

“Funding from the Optimizing Virtual Care competition will help Harbor Care reach clients and community members as never before. Over the next two years,  we will implement a novel, modern virtual care system for our community’s most vulnerable. We will install new virtual access points within our community health center, at housing programs, through patient-owned devices, and in the community at large. With these access points, patients may meet with clinicians regardless of the technology they own or ability to travel. In addition, funding will allow us to build a virtual dispatch system so our teams may immediately confer with patients on their health, housing, and social needs. These interventions will further Harbor Care’s mission of providing ‘no wrong door’ connections to the health, housing, and social needs of Greater Nashua’s most vulnerable populations,” said Peter Kelleher, CEO and President of Harbor Care. “In the long run, these interventions will improve long-term health and economic outcomes. Moreover, when proven effective, the model may be scaled so that other communities may provide a cost-effective solution to countering the health and social challenges faced by community members who are low-income or experiencing homelessness.”

###