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Local health nonprofits ask Tamworth Select Board for funding as budget is finalized
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Summary
Three regional health providers—Tamworth Community Nurse Association, Lakes Region Visiting Nurse Association, and White Mountain Community Health Center—requested town appropriations during the Jan. 27 Select Board meeting, citing rising demand and program expansion; TCNA asked for $70,000, LRVNA for $5,000, and White Mountain for $8,760.
Julie Lanoi, director of the Tamworth Community Nurse Association, told the Select Board the organization made a total of “2,164 health visits in 2025” and reported a 47% increase in unduplicated residents served this year. TCNA asked the board for a petitioned appropriation of $70,000 for 2026, saying the request represents roughly 23% of its operating budget after internal reductions and fundraising.
"We actually saw a 47% increase in the residents utilizing our direct nursing services this year," Lanoi said, describing an expansion of home visits, caregiver coaching and community programs that reach a broad cross‑section of Tamworth residents. She said TCNA has deepened partnerships with the police department and other local agencies and has hired additional staff to handle the growth.
Representatives from Lakes Region Visiting Nurse Association said their agency delivered 405 in‑home visits to 15 Tamworth residents over the past year and requested $5,000 for 2026. Dr. Erin Jospi, LRVNA chief executive, framed the ask as support to maintain hospice and home‑care services amid falling Medicare reimbursement rates and growing need for charitable care.
"We are privileged to be one of the partners of Tamworth's Community Nurse Association," Jospi said, emphasizing charitable care and workforce development. Jim Harnett, LRVNA chief financial officer, reiterated the $5,000 request and noted reductions in reimbursement that pressure local providers.
White Mountain Community Health Center sought $8,760 from Tamworth, or about $40 per patient, to help cover increased demand tied to changes in insurance coverage. Sienna Kaplan Thompson, the center’s director of communications and development, said about 7% of the center’s active patients (219 of 3,159) live in Tamworth and that limited dental space constrains capacity even as medical services can absorb new patients.
Board members and committee chairs asked questions about service duplication, staffing and space constraints. One member noted TCNA’s larger historical share of town funds and said the new data and staff changes made them more comfortable considering the request; another committee chair reported personnel committee review of TCNA staffing and finances.
Next steps: the Select Board will consider these petitioned and budget requests in the upcoming Feb. 10 budget hearing when final warrant language, revenues and capital items will be posted.
