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Strafford County officials tell Durham council budget squeeze forced hospice closure
Summary
Strafford County Commissioner George Maglaras and County Administrator Raymond Bower told Durham councilors that a late state shift of $500,000 in Medicaid costs contributed to a county budget squeeze and the closure of Hyder Family House hospice; the county is pursuing options to reopen it under Wentworth Douglass and seeking grants to upgrade dispatch equipment.
Durham, N.H. — Strafford County officials briefed the Durham Town Council on June 15 about county budget pressures that led to the closure of Hyder Family House hospice and other operational strains.
Commissioner George Maglaras told councilors the county has been hit by changes in healthcare funding. "It’s a difficult time with changes in healthcare, in Medicare and Medicaid, and the state shifting a $500,000 Medicaid cost to the county just two days before its budget was due to the towns in the county," Maglaras said, adding that the commission is increasingly criticized for costs it cannot control.
Maglaras and County Administrator Raymond Bower said they are working to have Hyder Family House reopened under Wentworth Douglass Hospital rather than operated by the county. The county also reported it has updated its dispatch center and is seeking grant funding to upgrade radio equipment used by town police departments and the Sheriff's Office.
Councilors asked clarifying questions about the Sheriff’s Office budget, which officials said was affected by an unusual, one-time medical cost for an inmate that skewed year-to-year comparisons. Maglaras and Bower said they are sensitive to taxpayers facing rising property taxes and that they plan to return during local budget discussions to explain impacts and answer questions.
What’s next: County officials indicated they will follow up with towns during budget deliberations and pursue grant funding for communications equipment and potential regional solutions for services such as hospice care.
