BELLOWS FALLS, Vt. (WCAX) – Last night, we told you Rockingham health center is closing, tonight our Laura Ullman shows us why the Bellows Falls community is outraged. Residents are calling the town a “health care desert.” The concern comes after the closure of the town’s only primary care and walk-in clinic. Our Laura Ullman was at the clinic when the commotion came to a breaking point.
“How do we have any guarantee that you actually worked hard enough to make sure that this is the right decision? How do we know that? I don’t know that and quite frankly, I don’t believe you.” said Kelly Hopkins of Bellows Falls.
Hopkins has a strong connection to the Rockingham Health Center. Her father was born there and she bought the house next door to be close to the clinic.
“We bought our house where we did is because I am disabled, you can’t see it, but I am, and I have been since birth.” said Hopkins
Hopkins and other people in the community were shocked and angry to hear the clinic is closing. Parent company North Star Health says the clinic is losing $800,000 a year and they have no choice but to close.
“For our organization, there’s no more costs to cut, and I think it’s important that everyone understand that. ” said Joshua Dufresne
“We’re screwed,” residents clamored
Townsfolk described the clinic as the bedrock of the community. Visits brought people to downtown businesses, and kept the health of neighbors stable.
“It’s a small town , they know everybody, and who’s gonna care about us anymore?” said Dawn Kersula of Bellows Falls.
Without it, the next closest clinic would be at least a 15 minute drive away. There’s no timely public transportation. Several people in the audience were concerned because they don’t have cars, or are aging and unable to drive.
“We don’t have additional funds that we can put into transportation.” says North Star CEO, Josh Dufresne
Inflation, the rising cost of prescription drugs, and the stagnation of reimbursements from Medicare, Medicaid and commercial insurance are putting the squeeze on primary care clinics.
“What we’re seeing in the data that we have is that the various payers and other revenue sources aren’t able to keep up with the wage pressures, the benefits pressures, as well as just the cost of doing business.” said Georgia Maheras of Bistate Primary Care:
Back in Bellows Falls, Collins and their neighbors are forming a committee on how to transition the town away from the health care center they’ve always known.
“Everything is change in life. We shouldn’t hold it against somebody else,” a VA nurse shared with the crowd
The expected close date for Rockingham Health Center will be January 1st, but the building and its other services are expected to stay open past that date.