Hudson Headwaters Receives Northern Border Regional Commission Catalyst Program Grant to Advance Dental Expansion Plans
Hudson Headwaters Health Network is pleased to announce the award of a Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) Catalyst Program grant in support of expanding essential dental services in the North Country. This investment represents a critical step in addressing the region’s dental care shortage—an issue underscored by a current waitlist of nearly 5,000 people seeking to establish care.
“The NBRC funding is an important start toward the significant resources required to close the dental-access gap in our region,” said Hudson Headwaters CEO Tucker Slingerland, M.D. “As one of the region’s only nonprofit safety-net dental providers, the Network accepts all patients regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. We see how deeply insufficient access to dental care affects families, seniors and children every day. We extend our gratitude to the NBRC, Governor Kathy Hochul, Senators Gillibrand and Schumer and Congresswoman Stefanik for both recognizing this immense need and helping to secure this funding.”
The NBRC funding will be used to add dental services to the Hudson Headwaters Ticonderoga Health Center on the University of Vermont Health Network – Elizabethtown Community Hospital Ticonderoga campus.
“This generous funding will help Elizabethtown Community Hospital and Hudson Headwaters further our ongoing collaborative efforts to meet the health care needs of our region,” shared Bob Ortmyer, president of Elizabethtown Community Hospital. “The new dental suite, adjacent to Hudson Headwaters’ primary care facility, will be a welcome, and much-needed, addition to the services available on our campus.”
In addition to Ticonderoga, Hudson Headwaters is developing plans to further expand dental services by adding a new site in northern Saratoga County and upgrading capacity at the Network’s only existing dental office in Warrensburg. These plans are part of a comprehensive strategy to improve access to dental care throughout the region. As plans progress, the Network will update the public once patients can call to make an appointment at the new locations.
Hudson Headwaters will soon launch a fundraising campaign to leverage this initial investment from the NBRC. The campaign will ensure the Network’s plans to address the region’s dental needs are successful. Donations, additional government grants and 340B savings (learn more at HHHN.org/about/340B), are all anticipated to help support the estimated $12-15 million needed.
“We are deeply grateful to the Northern Border Regional Commission and elected officials who made this funding happen,” said Erin Thompson, DDS, lead dental provider at Hudson Headwaters. “Their support provides meaningful momentum for this project and helps us move closer to meeting the overwhelming dental needs of our communities and patients.”
MEDIA CONTACT:
Pam Fisher
Director of External Affairs
Hudson Headwaters Health Network
518-338-7905
Photo Caption: Erin Thompson, DDS, lead dental provider at Hudson Headwaters, with a pediatric patient at the Network’s existing dental office in Warrensburg.