THE STATE OF
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE ACCESS IN NORTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE

Understanding the Health Care Crisis Facing Patients and Providers

Northern New Hampshire residents are bearing the brunt of New Hampshire’s health care crisis.

What’s happening?

Access to reproductive and maternal health care is eroding across Coos, Carroll, and Grafton counties. Affordable and accessible abortion care is diminishing, labor and delivery units are closing, and access to family planning is deteriorating.

What are we doing?

The Reproductive Equity Now Foundation is committed to breaking down barriers to care for rural Granite Staters through our education, advocacy, and organizing work. We won’t stop until every New Hampshire resident can access the reproductive and maternal health care they want or need without roadblocks or stigma.

What can YOU do?

Below, learn more about the health care access landscape in northern New Hampshire, how to access trusted and quality care, and what key legislative actions have contributed to the rural reproductive health care crisis. Sign up to advocate and organize for reproductive health care access in northern New Hampshire!

JOIN US TO FIGHT FOR REPRO HEALTH CARE ACCESS IN NORTHERN NH!

Reproductive Health Care Access in Northern New Hampshire

  • While Granite Staters can access abortion care in New Hampshire, only two brick-and-mortar provider sites are located in northern New Hampshire. 

    1. Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon

    2. Memorial Hospital, North Conway

    It is important to note that both of these providers are hospital-based options, and that northern New Hampshire residents have no brick-and-mortar reproductive health clinics.

    Source: Reproductive Equity Now Abortion Care Guide

  • While Granite Staters can access New Hampshire Family Planning Program services at six sites across the state, only one provider site is located in northern New Hampshire: Coos County Family Health, Berlin 

    The New Hampshire Family Planning Program (NHFPP) provides low to no-cost birth control, cancer screenings, and other essential sexual and reproductive health care services. As a Title X program, abortion care is not covered by the NHFPP. 

    Below, learn more about recent funding cuts to the NHFPP by Carroll, Coos, and Grafton elected officials!

    Source: Department of Health and Human Services, New Hampshire

  • While Granite Staters can give birth at 15 labor delivery units across the state, only 5 labor and delivery units are located in northern New Hampshire, with only 1 in Coos County and 1 in Carroll County.

    Hospitals:

    1. Androscoggin Valley Hospital, Berlin

    2. Littleton Regional Healthcare, Littleton

    3. Memorial Hospital, Conway

    4. Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon

    5. Speare Memorial Hospital, Plymouth


    Birth Centers:

    1. Gentle Landing Birth Center, Hanover

    Closures:

    Since 2000, multiple hospitals across the region have closed their labor and delivery units, increasing travel times and reducing access to maternal health services:

    • New London Hospital (Closed in 2002) – New London

    • Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital (Closed in 2003) – Colebrook

    • Weeks Medical Center (Closed in 2008) – Lancaster

    • Huggins Hospital (Closed in 2009) – Wolfeboro

    • Cottage Hospital (Closed in 2014) – Haverhill

    • Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital (Closed in 2018) – Lebanon

    Source: Tableau Public, Northern New England Labor & Delivery Unit Closures

EXPANDING ACCESS TO DIAPERS FOR NEW MOMS & THEIR INFANTS

As out-of-pocket health care costs continue to rise, New Hampshire must implement measures so health care for moms and babies is accessible and affordable to all families.

Reproductive equity means that every Granite Stater choosing to start or grow their family has access to the health care and material support they need so that they and their children can experience healthy outcomes.

Earlier this year, Representative Carrie Sorensen (D-Portsmouth) introduced Diapers for Low Income Families (HB 1789), a bill that would allow moms on Medicaid to access one year of diapers for their newborns. This bill was aimed at keeping all babies clean and dry, and easing the burden for moms who cannot afford to supply diapers for their infant. Legislators heard from advocates about how the Granite State has an opportunity to join Tennessee and Delaware, which have already implemented Medicaid coverage for diapers, as a national leader for infant health.

Medicaid is a federal and state-funded health insurance program that provides essential health care to New Hampshire residents, including children, adults, pregnant women, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. The program supports all Granite Staters and their families to remain healthy, productive, and engaged in their communities, and on average covers more than 1 in 5 births in the state. Coos County has the largest proportion of its population enrolled in Medicaid at 12.1 %, with Carroll County reporting 9.5% and Grafton County reporting 7.5%. On average, more than one in four (27%) of Berlin residents are enrolled in Medicaid.

Unfortunately, on February 12, the House Majority voted to table the bill, effectively killing it and leaving many of our most vulnerable moms and families in without the critical support they need.

DID YOUR NORTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE REPRESENTATIVE VOTE AGAINST DIAPERS FOR FAMILIES?

  • ✅ Voted in SUPPORT of New Moms Accessing Diapers for their Infants:

    • David Paige (CAR 01 - D) - Conway

    • Stephen Woodcock (CAR 01 - D) - Conway

    • Anita Burroughs (CAR 02 - D) -Albany, Bartlett, Chatham, Hale's Location, Hart's Location, Jackson, Sandwich

    • Chris McAleer (CAR 02 - D) -Albany, Bartlett, Chatham, Hale's Location, Hart's Location, Jackson, Sandwich


    ❌ Voted AGAINST New Moms Accessing Diapers for their Infants

    • Karel Crawford (CAR 03 - R) - Madison, Moultonborough, Tamworth

    • Joseph Hamblen (CAR 03 - R) - Madison, Moultonborough, Tamworth

    • Lino Avellani (CAR 04 - R) - Brookfield, Eaton, Effingham, Freedom, Wakefield

    • Mike Belcher (CAR 04 - R) - Brookfield, Eaton, Effingham, Freedom, Wakefield

    • John H Smith (CAR 05 -R) - Ossipee

    • Katy Peternel (CAR 06 -R) - Tuftonboro, Wolfeboro

    • Brian Taylor (CAR 08 -R) - Brookfield, Eaton, Effingham, Freedom, Madison, Moultonborough, Tamworth, Wakefield

    ⚠️ Did Not Vote

    • Tom Buco (CAR 01- D): Conway

    • John MacDonald (CAR 06 -R) - Tuftonboro, Wolfeboro

    • Richard Brown ( CAR 08 - R) - Brookfield, Eaton, Effingham, Freedom, Madison, Moultonborough, Tamworth, Wakefield

  • ✅ Voted in SUPPORT of New Moms Accessing Diapers for their Infants:

    No Representative of Coos County voted in support of moms accessing diapers for their infants.

    ❌ Voted AGAINST New Moms Accessing Diapers for their Infants:

    • Pete Morency (COO 5 - R) - Berlin

    • Lori Korzen (COO 7 - R) - Berlin, Carroll, Jefferson, Kilkenny, Whitefield

    • Marc Tremblay (COO 5 - R) - Berlin

    • James Tierney (COO 1 - R) - Dalton, Lancaster, Northumberland, Stratford

    • Arnold Davis (COO 2 - R) - Atkinson & Gilmanton Academy Grant, Cambridge, Clarksville, Dix's Grant, Dixville, Dummer, Errol, Milan, Millsfield, Odell, Pittsburg, Second College Grant, Stark, Wentworth's Location

    • Mike Ouellet (COO 3 - R) - Colebrook, Columbia, Erving's Location, Stewartstown

    • Seth King (COO 4 - R) - Carroll, Jefferson, Kilkenny, Whitefield

    ⚠️ Did Not Vote

    • Sean Durkin (COO 1 - R) - Dalton, Lancaster, Northumberland, Stratford

    • Michael Murphy (COO 6 - R) -Bean's Grant, Bean's Purchase, Chandler's Purchase, Crawford's Purchase, Cutt's Grant, Gorham, Green's Grant, Hadley's Purchase, Low & Burbank's Grant, Martin's Location, Pinkham's Grant, Randolph, Sargent's Purchase, Shelburne, Success, Thompson & Meserve Purchase

  • ✅ Voted in SUPPORT of New Moms Accessing Diapers for their Infants:

    • Jared Sullivan (GRA 2 - D) -Bethlehem, Franconia

    • Jerry Stringham (GRA 3 - D) - Easton, Lincoln, Livermore, Woodstock

    • Heather Baldwin (GRA 4 - D) - Ellsworth, Thornton, Waterville Valley

    • Janet Lucas (GRA 7 - D) - Campton

    • Bill Bolton (GRA 8 - D) - Ashland, Holderness, Plymouth

    • Sallie Fellows (GRA 8 - D) - Ashland, Holderness, Plymouth

    • Peter Lovett (GRA 8 - D) -Ashland, Holderness, Plymouth

    • Thomas Oppel (GRA 9 - D) - Canaan, Dorchester, Orange

    • Mary Hakken-Phillips (GRA 12 - D) -Hanover, Lyme

    • Russell Muirhead (GRA 12 - D) - Hanover, Lyme

    • Ellen Rockmore (GRA 12 - D) -Hanover, Lyme

    • Terry Spahr (GRA 12 - D) - Hanover, Lyme

    • Laurel Stavis (GRA 13 - D) -Lebanon-Ward 1

    • George Sykes (GRA 14 - D)Lebanon-Ward 2

    • Thomas Cormen (GRA 15 - D) - Lebanon-Ward 3

    • David Fracht (GRA 16 - D) - Enfield

    • Susan Almy (GRA 17 - D) - Lebanon-Ward 1, Lebanon-Ward 2, Lebanon-Ward 3


    ❌ Voted AGAINST New Moms Accessing Diapers for their Infants:

    • Joseph Barton (GRA 1 - R) -Bath, Lisbon, Littleton, Lyman, Monroe, Sugar Hill

    • Calvin Beaulier (GRA 1 - R) -Bath, Lisbon, Littleton, Lyman, Monroe, Sugar Hill

    • Darrell Louis (GRA 1 - R)- Bath, Lisbon, Littleton, Lyman, Monroe, Sugar Hill

    • Marie Louise Bjelobrk (GRA 5 - R): - Benton, Haverhill, Landaff, Piermont, Warren

    • Rick Ladd (GRA 5 - R) - Benton, Haverhill, Landaff, Piermont, Warren

    • Linda Franz (GRA 6 - R) - Orford, Rumney, Wentworth

    • John Sellers (GRA 10 - R) - Bridgewater, Bristol

    • Lex Berezhny (GRA 11 - R) - Alexandria, Grafton, Groton, Hebron

    • Donald McFarlane (GRA 18 - R) - Alexandria, Bridgewater, Bristol, Canaan, Dorchester, Enfield, Grafton, Groton, Hebron, Orange

NEW HAMPSHIRE FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAM:

The majority of lawmakers in New Hampshire are making the Granite State a worse place to live and thrive, and one of the clearest examples is the health care crisis impacting women, moms, and families.

During the 2025 legislative session, half of the state representatives representing  Grafton, Coos, and Carroll counties voted to restrict their constituents' access to birth control and reproductive cancer screenings.

By voting to fully eliminate New Hampshire’s Family Planning Program, a program with a 53 year track record and longstanding bipartisan support, these representatives voted to cut off thousands of Granite Staters from  no or low-cost family planning health services, including birth control, cancer screenings, STD testing/screening, and more.

After immense advocacy and community pushback, the New Hampshire Family Planning Program was ultimately saved from total elimination, but still faced devastating budget cuts.

As rural Granite Staters, Grafton, Coos, and Carroll county residents already face steep barriers to reproductive health care access. Unfortunately, half of their elected leaders voted to make matters even worse. It’s time we had leaders who prioritize investing in health care for families and our rural communities.

DID YOUR NORTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE REPRESENTATIVE VOTE TO ELIMINATE THE NH FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAM?

  • ✅ Voted to Fully FUND the NH Family Planning Program

    • David Paige (CAR 01 - D) - Conway

    • Stephen Woodcock (CAR 01 - D) - Conway

    • Anita Burroughs (CAR 02 - D) -Albany, Bartlett, Chatham, Hale's Location, Hart's Location, Jackson, Sandwich

    • Chris McAleer (CAR 02 - D) -Albany, Bartlett, Chatham, Hale's Location, Hart's Location, Jackson, Sandwich

    • Joseph Hamblen (CAR 03 - R) - Madison, Moultonborough, Tamworth


    ❌ Voted to ELIMINATE the NH Family Planning Program

    • Karel Crawford (CAR 03 - R) - Madison, Moultonborough, Tamworth

    • Lino Avellani (CAR 04 - R) - Brookfield, Eaton, Effingham, Freedom, Wakefield

    • Mike Belcher (CAR 04 - R) - Brookfield, Eaton, Effingham, Freedom, Wakefield

    • John H Smith (CAR 05 -R) - Ossipee

    • John MacDonald (CAR 06 -R) - Tuftonboro, Wolfeboro

    • Katy Peternel (CAR 06 -R) - Tuftonboro, Wolfeboro

    • Glenn Cordelli* (CAR 07 -R) -Ossipee, Tuftonboro, Wolfeboro

    • Richard Brown ( CAR 08 - R) - Brookfield, Eaton, Effingham, Freedom, Madison, Moultonborough, Tamworth, Wakefield

    • Brian Taylor (CAR 08 -R) - Brookfield, Eaton, Effingham, Freedom, Madison, Moultonborough, Tamworth, Wakefield

    ⚠️ Did Not Vote

    • Tom Buco (CAR 01- D): Conway

    (*) ‍ resigned from the NH House on 11/12/25

  • ✅ Voted to Fully FUND the NH Family Planning Program

    • Pete Morency (COO 5 - R) - Berlin

    • Brian Valerino* (COO 5 - R) - Berlin

    ❌ Voted to ELIMINATE the NH Family Planning Program

    • Sean Durkin (COO 1 - R) - Dalton, Lancaster, Northumberland, Stratford

    • James Tierney (COO 1 - R) - Dalton, Lancaster, Northumberland, Stratford

    • Arnold Davis (COO 2 - R) - Atkinson & Gilmanton Academy Grant, Cambridge, Clarksville, Dix's Grant, Dixville, Dummer, Errol, Milan, Millsfield, Odell, Pittsburg, Second College Grant, Stark, Wentworth's Location

    • Mike Ouellet (COO 3 - R) - Colebrook, Columbia, Erving's Location, Stewartstown

    • Seth King (COO 4 - R) - Carroll, Jefferson, Kilkenny, Whitefield

    • Michael Murphy (COO 6 - R) -Bean's Grant, Bean's Purchase, Chandler's Purchase, Crawford's Purchase, Cutt's Grant, Gorham, Green's Grant, Hadley's Purchase, Low & Burbank's Grant, Martin's Location, Pinkham's Grant, Randolph, Sargent's Purchase, Shelburne, Success, Thompson & Meserve Purchase

    • Lori Korzen (COO 7 - R) - Berlin, Carroll, Jefferson, Kilkenny, Whitefield

    (*) ‍ Resigned from the House on June 19, 2025. Marc Tremblay won a special election to fill the vacancy on Nov. 4, 2025.

  • ✅ Voted to Fully FUND the NH Family Planning Program

    • Jared Sullivan (GRA 2 - D) -Bethlehem, Franconia

    • Jerry Stringham (GRA 3 - D) - Easton, Lincoln, Livermore, Woodstock

    • Heather Baldwin (GRA 4 - D) - Ellsworth, Thornton, Waterville Valley

    • Janet Lucas (GRA 7 - D) - Campton

    • Bill Bolton (GRA 8 - D) - Ashland, Holderness, Plymouth

    • Sallie Fellows (GRA 8 - D) - Ashland, Holderness, Plymouth

    • Peter Lovett (GRA 8 - D) -Ashland, Holderness, Plymouth

    • Thomas Oppel (GRA 9 - D) - Canaan, Dorchester, Orange

    • Mary Hakken-Phillips (GRA 12 - D) -Hanover, Lyme

    • Russell Muirhead (GRA 12 - D) - Hanover, Lyme

    • Ellen Rockmore (GRA 12 - D) -Hanover, Lyme

    • Terry Spahr (GRA 12 - D) - Hanover, Lyme

    • Laurel Stavis (GRA 13 - D) -Lebanon-Ward 1

    • George Sykes (GRA 14 - D)Lebanon-Ward 2

    • Thomas Cormen (GRA 15 - D) - Lebanon-Ward 3

    • David Fracht (GRA 16 - D) - Enfield

    • Susan Almy (GRA 17 - D) - Lebanon-Ward 1, Lebanon-Ward 2, Lebanon-Ward 3


    ❌ Voted to ELIMINATE the NH Family Planning Program

    • Joseph Barton (GRA 1 - R) - Bath, Lisbon, Littleton, Lyman, Monroe, Sugar Hill

    • Calvin Beaulier (GRA 1 - R) - Bath, Lisbon, Littleton, Lyman, Monroe, Sugar Hill

    • Darrell Louis (GRA 1 - R) - Bath, Lisbon, Littleton, Lyman, Monroe, Sugar Hill

    • Marie Louise Bjelobrk (GRA 5 - R): - Benton, Haverhill, Landaff, Piermont, Warren

    • Rick Ladd (GRA 5 - R) - Benton, Haverhill, Landaff, Piermont, Warren

    • Linda Franz (GRA 6 - R) - Orford, Rumney, Wentworth

    • John Sellers (GRA 10 - R) - Bridgewater, Bristol

    • Lex Berezhny (GRA 11 - R) - Alexandria, Grafton, Groton, Hebron

    • Donald McFarlane (GRA 18 - R) - Alexandria, Bridgewater, Bristol, Canaan, Dorchester, Enfield, Grafton, Groton, Hebron, Orange

Access to reproductive health care is directly affected by your New Hampshire elected officials. Learn about advocacy opportunities, organizing events, and more by joining our email list!

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Resources

  • Reproductive Freedom Fund of New Hampshire

    Access to financial support for abortion care, transportation to abortion care, and free Plan B in your community.

    Learn More

  • Reproductive Equity Now’s New England Abortion Care Guide

    A searchable database that provides locations and information about clinics and hospitals providing abortion care throughout New England, including telehealth options that can meet the needs of rural patients.

    Learn More

  • New Hampshire Mom Hub

    A resource that connects mothers and healthcare providers to compassionate, evidence-based mental health support through peer support, care navigation, and community collaboration.

    Learn More

  • NH Breast and Cervical Cancer Program Screening Locations

    Information on where you can access free breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services if you are between the ages of 21-64, have no health insurance or insurance that does not cover 100% of the cost of screening or diagnostic tests; and have a family incomes at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level.

    Learn More

  • Doula CONNECT

    A resource providing cross-trained Doula Community Health Workers (CHWs) at no cost  to anyone who is pregnant or within one year postpartum and living in the North Country of New Hampshire.

    Learn More

  • Reproductive Equity Now’s Anti-Abortion Center Guidebook

    A guidebook that helps readers understand how anti-abortion centers often use deceptive practices to target patients seeking abortion care, and get the tools they need to avoid them.

    Learn More