Health Company Seeks To Enroll The Uninsured

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Affordable Health Care Act is here. Some are finding it complicated to navigate, but it doesn't have to be.

Community Health Programs Chief Executive Officer Bryan Ayars says the nonprofit health agency is upping its efforts to help people and get enrolled in health insurance programs.

Massachusetts, which created the successful template for the federal health insurance law, is lagging behind other states in enrollment in part because of glitches with its health exchange website. And some residents may not realize they are now eligible.

Ayars said there are some 10,000 individuals in the county who are now eligible for insurance under the federal law, and he wants to find them and get them signed up.

"Our sense is that there are a lot of people frozen in place in making a decision," Ayars said on Tuesday. "We want to make sure as many people in Berkshire County who are qualified for health insurance gets it."

The state's overall rate of uninsured is 2 percent but 9 percent of CHP's patients, who come from throughout the county, have no insurance.

The group has launched BerkshireAffordableCare.org and will be hitting the radio airwaves, Facebook, posting billboards and getting into communities to find those who either don't have health insurance or are enrolled in plans that are too expensive.

"We've had enrollment specialists for years but in the last six months to a year, we've ramped up those activities," Ayars said. "We're looking to enroll whoever is interested."

CHP isn't the only organization helping enrollment. Ecu-Health Care in North County and Berkshire Health Systems' Advocacy for Access program have both ramped up enrollment activities. All three entities were designated access providers last fall and provided with federal funding to support enrollment activities.

But it isn't a competition, Ayars said. The benefit for the organizations is when people have insurance, they see doctors more often.

Ayars said Berkshire County ranks near the bottom in the state for health outcomes. He believes the Affordable Health Care Act has helped break the barrier of insurance coverage for many who otherwise wouldn't have seen a doctor.

"It's important to us that patients have insurance," he said. "The Berkshires are ranked 11th out of 14 in health outcomes so there is a lot of work to be done."

Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Residents demanded the right to speak but the agenda did not include public comment. Amy Musante holds a sign saying the town now as '$20,000 less for a police station.'

DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action. 

 

The quitclaim deed transfers the nine acres to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels in Dalton. They were the third-highest bidders at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded them the land in an effort to keep the property intact.

 

"It's going to be an ongoing battle but one I think that has to be fought [because of] the disregard for the taxpayers," said Dicken Crane, the high bidder at $51,510.

 

"If it was personal I would let it go, but this affects everyone and backing down is not in my nature." 

 

Crane had appealed to the board to accept his bid during two previous meetings. He and others opposed to accepting the lower bid say it cost the town $20,000. After the meeting, Crane said he will be filing a lawsuit and has a citizen's petition for the next town meeting with over 100 signatures. 

 

Three members of the board — Chair Robert Bishop Jr., John Boyle, and Marc Strout — attended the 10-minute meeting. Members Anthony Pagliarulo and Daniel Esko previously expressed their disapproval of the sale to the Balardinis. 

 

Pagliarulo voted against the sale but did sign the purchase-and-sale agreement earlier this month. His reasoning was the explanation by the town attorney during an executive session that, unlike procurement, where the board is required to accept the lowest bid for services, it does have some discretion when it comes to accepting bids in this instance.