Community Health Van Deployed to North Adams
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A number of organizations are working to preserve medical access in light of the demise of Northern Berkshire Healthcare.
First, the practices of Northern Berkshire Family Medicine and Northern Berkshire OB/GYN will remain open and available for patient services, according to NBH officials. The affiliated services were expected to close by Friday, April 4, but Berkshire Health Systems has stepped in to provide administrative and other assistance to keep the practices going.
However, both offices will have to relocate because they are in NBH-owned facilities — OB/GYN is on the second floor at North Adams Regional Hospital and the family practice is in a building near the airport.
For any immediate OB/GYN concerns please call the office at 413-664-4343. All other concerns can be addressed by calling Berkshire Medical Center's Careline at 855-262-5465.
Meanwhile, Community Health Programs is sending a team of medical personnel to North County on Wednesday, April 2, to the parking lot at the hospital's currently closed Emergency Department.
CHP's 35-foot mobile medical van will be in the city from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dr. Michael Kaplan, one of CHP's family physicians, will be on board, along with medical assistants to triage and see patients as needed. CHP is also partnering with Ecu-Healthcare and will send four enrollment specialists to assist people who have lost their health insurance get coverage under the Affordable Care Act.
"Our hearts go out to all those who are impacted by NARH's closing and we will continue to work with other organizations to assist where we can," said Bryan Ayars, chief executive officer for Community Health Programs.
CHP's Neighborhood Health Center, located at 510 North St., Pittsfield, is now accepting new patients in need of primary care. Hours of operation are 8 to 5, Monday through Friday. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 413-447-2351. In addition, CHP Barrington OB/GYN Office, located at 780 Main St. in Great Barrington, is also accepting new patients by calling 413-528-1470. Insurance enrollment assistance is available at both locations.
Southern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington, Vt., is reportedly now accepting MassHealth, although we have not been able to confirm that.
The VNA & Hospice of Northern Berkshire is in the process of having its license transferred to another entity. This is being done at the federal level and it is not clear which organization is taking over the license or when the transfer will be complete.
Three labs for blood drawing are also being set up in Adams, North Adams and Williamstown but the times and locations are still being determined.
Some practices on the hospital campus are not being affected by the closure: Check the list here.
A job fair featuring nearly 20 medical and health-care employees will be held at the Clark House on the hospital campus from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 2.
Northern Berkshire Healthcare is also informing the public, by law, that it can no longer participate in Medicare.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid requires NBH to formally notify the public when payment for inpatient services is discontinued.
North Adams Regional Hospital at 71 Hospital Avenue, North Adams, Massachusetts, will no longer participate in the Medicare Program (Title XVIII of the Social Security Act), effective March 28, 2014. The agreement between North Adams Regional Hospital and the Secretary of Health and Human Services has been terminated on March 28, 2014, in accordance with the provisions of the Social Security Act.
The Medicare Program will not make payment for inpatient hospital services furnished to patients who are admitted on or after March 28, 2014. For patients admitted prior to March 28, 2014, payment may continue to be made for up to 30 days of inpatient services furnished on or after March 28, 2014.
Timothy Jones
President, Northern Berkshire Healthcare
Tags: NARH,
