The future of the Mascoma Community Health Center dental clinic remains uncertain, but clarity is expected in the coming weeks.
The clinic, located in a 14,000-square-foot facility at the intersection of Roberts Road and Highway 4, currently provides dental services. Earlier this month, the nonprofit announced it would take over services at HealthFirst Family Care Center after the center ceased operations at the end of October.
However, Sandra Hayden, chair of the Mascoma Community Health Board, emphasized the need to raise $200,000 in initial operating funds. “We need financial support to cover the first three months of medical expenses,” Hayden explained.
The organization is seeking support from the local community and major employers in the area. If funding or donation commitments are secured by early October, the goal is to ensure a smooth transition when HealthFirst divests on November 1st.
HealthFirst, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), took over Canaan’s medical services in November 2023. However, due to high costs and low patient volume, HealthFirst announced in July that it would cease operations after two years.
HealthFirst CEO Ted Bolognani revealed that while the clinic initially anticipated serving 6,000 patients, it only treated approximately 1,900 during its operations.
According to a July 2023 report from the U.S. Department of Justice’s New Hampshire Division of Charitable Trusts, the Maskoma clinic initially had 5,500 patients but faced financial difficulties.
Nearly 29% of patients relied on Medicare or Medicaid, another 11% were on a sliding fee scale, and 27% were uninsured or underinsured, resulting in underreimbursement. The clinic’s expenses exceeded its revenue, a situation further exacerbated by the pandemic.
Hayden expressed confusion as to why HealthFirst was struggling to meet patient expectations. “We were baffled,” she said. However, many patients assured her and the board of directors that they would return once the Maskoma Community Health Center resumed operations in November.
The clinic provided medical and dental services from 2017 until it lost its dentist in 2022, suspending dental services until October 2023. During this period, dental revenue accounted for two-thirds of the clinic’s total revenue.
Now, the board hopes to expand the dental team to address its financial challenges. They recently hired a full-time dentist, a part-time dentist, and additional dental assistants. The expansion is expected to increase patient volume and revenue.
The board also hopes rising dental costs will offset HealthFirst’s rent, which will exceed $25,000 per month in 2023 and increase annually.
Despite facing financial obstacles, Muskema Community Health Center remains hopeful that local support will help it continue to provide vital dental services to the community.