NARH Gets $2M in State Funding

03:21PM / Friday, October 12, 2007Print Story | Email Story

NORTH ADAMS - North Adams Regional Hospital has received $2 million in state funding from the Essential Community Provider Trust Fund. "North Adams Regional Hospital is delighted to receive this award from the state of Massachusetts. Clearly, the administration recognizes the crucial role this community hospital plays in serving the health-care needs of the population, and the significant economic pressures we face," said Richard Palmisano, president and chief executive officer of Northern Berkshire Healthcare, in a statement. NARH was one of three facilities in the region that was awarded funds by the trust, which is administered by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services. Worthingtonâ€™s Hilltown Community Health Center will receive $100,000 and the Community Health Center of the Berkshires Childrenâ€™s Health Program Inc. in Great Barrington will receive $50,000. Some $37.5 million in funding was awarded during this grant round to 71 hospitals and community health centers statewide. The announcements of the grants was made Thursday by state Sen. Benjamin B. Downing, D-Pittsfield, and state Reps. Daniel E. Bosley, D-North Adams, and Stephen Kulik, D-Worthington. "We rely on these health-care facilities to provide quality primary and preventive care to our community's most vulnerable populations," said Downing. "The rising cost of care, coupled with minimal reimbursement rates, have created new fiscal challenges for these health centers. I am pleased that EOHHS recognizes their important work and responded with this essential funding." The hospital has been struggling with deficit spending for years and had spent millions in consultant fees trying to stem its flow of red ink. Palmisano was selected to lead the health system nearly two years ago after successfully curing the financially ailing Brattleboro (Vt.) Retreat. "These funds will enable us to continue our organization's hard-won, multiyear financial turnaround and to further develop our advances with medical technology, including our nationally innovative e-health initiative," said Palmisano, a registered nurse. "We are extremely grateful." "The North Adams Regional Hospital has made extraordinary strides to improving the quality and accessibility to health care for the residents of Northern Berkshire County," said Bosley. "These three well-deserving organizations will continue to provide excellent care to the people of the Berkshires with these funds." The Essential Community Provider Trust Fund's goal is to improve providers' abilities to serve populations in need more effectively and efficiently through community-based care, clinical support, disease management, primary care, care coordination and pharmacy management services. "Ensuring equal access to both preventative and acute care is a critical part of the Patrick administration's health care reform agenda," said Secretary of Health and Human Services Dr. JudyAnn Bigby. "The Essential Community Provider Trust Fund gives needed financial support to hospitals and community health centers on the front lines of patient care." Kulik said, "The health centers in Huntington and Worthington are the primary providers of comprehensive health care throughout our rural hilltown region. This important and well-deserved state grant will help to ensure that these quality services will continue to benefit the residents of the hilltowns." Thursday's announcement marks the conclusion of a highly competitive application and evaluation process. In July, the Division of Health Care Finance and Policy mailed letters, grant funding applications and instructions to all of the state's hospitals and community health centers. Application packets from 83 providers across the state were received with a total ask of $110 million. In evaluating grant applications and determining award amounts for fiscal 2008, EOHHS evaluated the role each provider plays in the commonwealthâ€™s health delivery system in order to maintain equitable access to key services, particularly in areas of geographic isolation. The state also prioritized supporting the financial viability of critical health-care providers, using three years of data to determine financial needs of acute, non-acute and community health providers. Finally, EOHHS emphasized the importance of protecting access to critical behavioral health services for all citizens of the commonwealth. The state plans to distribute the funds to providers beginning in November.

SteepleCats Shut Out on Road

iBerkshires.com Sports09:56PM / Monday, June 08, 2026

MONTPELIER, Vt. -- Four Vermont pitchers combined to strike out 11 and allow four hits Tuesday as the Mountaineers beat the North Adams SteepleCats, 11-0, in New England Collegiate Baseball League action.

Evan Meier, Bobby Stang, Tonny Woodie and Chris Diaz each had a hit for the SteepleCats, who used five pitchers in the loss.

North Adams (0-2) comes home Tuesday to host the Mystic Schooners at 6:30 p.m. at Joe Wolfe Field.