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Brad Mayes and Robert Belcher from the local Veterans Affairs office were at Thursday's session to provide information on different benefits available to veterans.

New England Veterans Affairs Reconnect With Berkshires

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
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John Collins supports growing partnerships with the private sector.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The local VA medical center is on board with the secretary's plans to engage more with the private sector.
 
U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin is looking to further integrate with private=sector health providers.
 
For the Central Western Massachusetts Health Care System, that will help provide more convenient service, according to its Medical Director John Collins.
 
"He is against privatizing veterans' health care. But, he does believe, as do I, that we have to do a much better job at integrating health care with the private-sector partners," Collins said.
 
"That is so important for VA Central Western Mass because we are a small VA medical organization. I don't have specialty care. I am very dependent on private sector."
 
Collins was speaking at a town hall forum on Thursday night  at Reid Middle School co-hosted by the city's veterans office to discuss health care options, benefits and other veterans issues. Eligible veterans could also apply for VA health care or spot claims.
 
Collins emphasized that the plan isn't to privatize the health care completely, but rather to create closer partnerships to provide more of a choice to those veterans needing medical procedures. But, it is a new push that the organization hasn't really had in the past.
 
"Historically the VA has been like a castle with a moat around it. I go around and meet CEOs of hospitals and provider groups and I am amazed at how many still don't know the VA. Some of these places are a mile or two away from the VA. We're doing a lot of work in the community in trying to connect more private sector partners," Collins said.
 
Collins also said he is looking to get access to the Health Net program, which he hopes will provide more choices.
 
The VA doesn't have the greatest reputation nationally and Shulkin has been vocal recently about problems ranging from wait times, staffing and the conditions of the buildings, to the accountability of the employees.
 
In New England, Collins said the issues haven't been as troublesome than in other parts of the country. Since he's taken over 2 1/2 years ago, he has been working to enhance the service and give veterans "the best care, in the quickest amount of time, and the closest location" to where they live. Partnering with more private sector will help ease access to service.
 
"We're very happy with the progress in the last 2 1/2 years but I know there is more to be done," Collins said.
 
Pittsfield's Veteran Service Office James Clark said the New England VA has not faced the same problems as elsewhere. Clark is an agent for the state's veterans benefits programs, which is unconnected with the VA. But, Clark still urges veterans to sign up for the VA benefits as well because "you've earned it."
 
"You are not hurting the VA by not signing up. You are hurting yourself," Clark said.
 
One of the first things Collins had done when taking over was hiring some 250 people to provide better and faster service. He also focused on renovations to the main facility at Leeds. 
 
"The infrastructure was old. How can you compete with the private sector with buildings that look like that? So we put a lot of money, whatever I could grab in all of New England VA," Collins said.
 
Pittsfield is a smaller site and hadn't seen those massive renovations. But, Collin said he'll be looking at possibly moving to a different leased space that will improve access and service.
 
"In the next year or so the lease on the Pittsfield site is expiring. We will be in the process soon of renewing that lease and we always try to look at the best location and the best facility. I know there have been parking issues and maybe some other issues. Together as a staff, we'll be looking at space," Collins said.
 
Throughout the state, the organization has opened offices and clinics and have partnered with places like Baystate Medical Center and the University of Massachusetts. And when it does come to those private-sector partners, he's also been addressing another concern of the past — actually paying them in a timely manner.
 
"We've done a much better job paying the private sector partners, which has been a key issue. If they don't get paid, they're not going to stay in our network and take care of us," Collins said.
 
The work has led to the agency receiving awards for most improved and excellence in financial management recently.
 
A lot of the focus recently has been on homeless veterans, the opioid crisis, and suicide. Collins said every day 20 veterans commit suicide and on average 14 of them were never connected with the VA.
 
On the veterans benefits side, a separate branch from the health care side, Director Brad Mayes heads the program for New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts out of the Boston office. He said the organization is providing more than $800 million in compensation per year.
 
"There are a lot of benefits that are being paid here in New England that a lot of people don't realize," Mayes said.
 
He is looking to grow capability and improve technology to allow easier access. He noted one change on the national level is in the determinations of qualification for benefits. The requests are being sorted and sent to places all over the country for review, when before Massachusetts handled all of the Massachusetts complaints. Mayes said that's improved timeliness because last year the state had 5,800 applications in total — 60 percent of which was for other states — but more than 11,500 Massachusetts veterans received determinations. The state averages 111 days to turn around a benefit request.
 
He added the organization also has a job training program in which a counselor will help a veteran determine the best path for job placement, which is a step above what the Gi Bill does.
 
Robert Belcher heads the Massachusetts National Cemetery Administration. He said renovations to that facility is coming in 2019. He said in a recent scoring of the organization, the Massachusetts cemetery scored above a 90.
 
"We're a model of excellence for burials for the national cemetery and for the private sector as well," Belcher said.
 
The administration provides the burials for qualified veterans. The graves are marked with medallions and presidential certificates are given to next of kin. It provides the burial flag, a two-person detail for the ceremony with a flag presentation and the playing of Taps. The administration will also be the final point of contact and let all of the other veterans organizations know about the passing. 
 
His staff has also grown to more than 30, most of whom are veterans themselves.
 
The three from the VA provided the update to about 50 local during a town hall meeting. The VA has been holding a number of town hall meetings to reconnect with communities and this was Collins' first time holding one in the Berkshires. Mayes said his organization has not been out to the Berkshires as much as it should and vowed to increase its connection.

Tags: veterans affairs,   veterans services,   

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MassDOT Project Will Affect Traffic Near BMC

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Prepare for traffic impacts around Berkshire Medical Center through May for a state Department of Transportation project to improve situations and intersections on North Street and First Street.

Because of this, traffic will be reduced to one lane of travel on First Street (U.S. Route 7) and North Street between Burbank Street and Abbott Street from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday through at least May 6.

BMC and Medical Arts Complex parking areas remain open and detours may be in place at certain times. The city will provide additional updates on changes to traffic patterns in the area as construction progresses.

The project has been a few years in the making, with a public hearing dating back to 2021. It aims to increase safety for all modes of transportation and improve intersection operation.

It consists of intersection widening and signalization improvements at First and Tyler streets, the conversion of North Street between Tyler and Stoddard Avenue to serve one-way southbound traffic only, intersection improvements at Charles Street and North Street, intersection improvements at Springside Avenue and North Street, and the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of First Street, North Street, Stoddard Avenue, and the Berkshire Medical Center entrance.

Work also includes the construction of 5-foot bike lanes and 5-foot sidewalks with ADA-compliant curb ramps.  

Last year, the City Council approved multiple orders for the state project: five orders of takings for intersection and signal improvements at First Street and North Street. 

The total amount identified for permanent and temporary takings is $397,200, with $200,000 allocated by the council and the additional monies coming from carryover Chapter 90 funding. The state Transportation Improvement Plan is paying for the project and the city is responsible for 20 percent of the design cost and rights-of-way takings.

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