Ecu-Health Care Ready to Aid NARH Employees
 Ecu-Health Care will have to move from the closing Doctor's Building, but it will be open this weekend to help laid-off workers from the hospital. |
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Ecu-Health Care is making the needs of those affected by the impending closure of North Adams Regional Hospital a top priority.
The non-profit program offers access and information for people seeking health coverage — a situation hundreds of employees of Northern Berkshire Healthcare will now need.
"Our immediate concern is that laid-off employees of North Adams Regional Hospital, of getting them in as soon as possible," said Executive Director Charles Joffe-Halpern on Wednesday. "Toward that end, the staff of Ecu-Health Care came up with the idea to remain open all day Saturday and all day Sunday."
All employees of Northern Berkshire Healthcare were emailed encouraging them to make appointments.
Many if not most of the more than 500 employees of the health-care system will lose their health insurance. Some may be able to be carried on their spouse's insurance but for other individuals, or for husbands and wives losing their insurance together, finding coverage will be critical.
Joffe-Halpern estimates that 300 to 400 people may have to purchase health insurance, and Ecu-Health Care will do what it can to guide them through the process.
"We've also had offers from other organization to come and help us," he said. "The response of the state and other organizations to support is greatly appreciated.
"So what we're doing is taking a look at the response the next two days ... We'll probably take up some offers to help, depending on the need."
But it was the staff that determined the best way to help was stay open through the weekend, said Joffe-Halpern. "Their idea was 'we need to be here for the people.' It's such a really great staff here."
Ecu-Health Care is the state's designated outreach and enrollment site for state health programs and supplemental programs including plans under the Affordable Care Act, ConnectorCare, MassHealth and the Health Safety Net, as well as dental and prescription assistance.
The five-person staff can help individuals determine their health care needs and navigate the different plans available.
So far, the program has enrolled some 2,900 individuals in health-care programs and had about 8,000 encounters to provide education and information.
The Doctor's Building shutdown next week, and Joffe-Halpern expects to be closed on Thursday and Friday, April 3 and 4, so the program can move to a new location. Joffe-Halpern isn't sure where that will be yet, other than it will continue to be located in the city.
But he's encouraging NBH employees not to wait until then and to call 413-663-8711 to make an appointment. Counseling can run from 30 minutes to an hour.
"I think people should move sooner than later," he said. "First things first, we don't want people to lose coverage, and they want minimal disruption. Education is important."
Tags: health insurance, NARH, NBH,
