CHP Expands Health Insurance Enrollment Staff to Assist More Consumers

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GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Community Health Programs has received a state grant to expand its health insurance enrollment team to assist more area residents.
 
The two-year, $150,000 Massachusetts Health Insurance Navigator Grant grows the current health insurance navigator staff staff from two to four positions. 
 
The grant also supports free “pre-enrollment" insurance information services at CHP through Oct. 31, ahead of the state's open enrollment period, which runs Nov. 1-Jan. 23, 2020. 
 
The pre-enrollment period helps consumers to obtain information, determine eligibility requirements and learn about the open enrollment process. 
 
CHP's insurance enrollment programs are open to all Massachusetts residents, not only to patients of CHP.
 
Health insurance counseling takes place one-on-one by phone, online, or in person. Meanwhile, CHP's health insurance enrollment staff will be attending outreach events at various locations, such as area food banks, churches and at CHP's mobile health unit sites.
 
Funding for CHP's expanded staffing comes from the Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority, also known as the Health Connector program.
 
For information or to schedule an insurance counseling appointment, contact enrollment@chpberkshires.org or call (413) 717-6268.
 
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Dalton Select Board Argues Over Sidewalk Article

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — A heated discussion concerning sidewalks during Monday night's Select Board meeting resulted in the acting chair calling a recess to cool the situation. 
 
The debate stemmed from the two articles on the town meeting warrant for May 6 at 7 p.m. at Wahconah Regional High School. 
 
One proposes purchasing a sidewalk paver for $64,000 so sidewalks can be paved or repaired for less money, but they will use asphalt rather than concrete. The other would amend the town's bylaws to mandate the use of concrete for all future sidewalks. 
 
The article on concrete sidewalks was added to the warrant through a citizen petition led by resident Todd Logan. 
 
The board was determining whether to recommend the article when member John Boyle took the conversation in a new direction by addressing how the petition was brought about. 
 
"I just have a comment about this whole procedure. I'm very disappointed in the fact that you [Logan] have been working, lobbying various groups and implementing this plan and filed this petition six weeks ago. You never had any respect for the Select Board and …" Boyle said. 
 
Before Boyle could finish his statement, which was directed to Logan, who was in the audience, Chair Joe Diver called point of order via Zoom. 
 
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