BMC Achieves 4-Star Quality Rating from CMS

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Health Systems has announced that Berkshire Medical Center (BMC) has been given a 4-star rating for overall quality by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS), based on how the hospital has performed across several areas of quality.  
 
The overall star rating is based on how well a hospital performs across different areas of quality, such as treating heart attacks and pneumonia, readmission rates, and safety of care. BMC scored at or above the national average on mortality, safety of care and readmission rates and performed well in patient experience and timely and effective care. 
 
"This 4-star rating reflects the commitment of our physicians, nurses and staff to providing safe, compassionate care to our community," said Tejas Gandhi, BMC Chief Operating Officer. "We are incredibly proud that this recognition publicly affirms the exceptional care that our teams deliver to our patients day after day and the high standards for quality and safety that patients can expect from their community hospital." 
 
According to CMS: "The overall rating shows how well each hospital performed on an identified set of quality measures compared to other hospitals in the U.S. The more stars, the better a hospital performed on the available quality measures." 
 
To find out more, visit the CMS Hospital Compare website: https://www.cms.gov/medicare/quality/initiatives/hospital-quality-initiative/hospital-compare.  

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Neal's Office Among Those Targeted by Suspicious Mailings

Staff Reports
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — U.S. Rep. Richard Neal was among congressmen apparently targeted by someone mailing suspicious envelopes. 
 
According to a report in The Berkshire Eagle, an envelope containing a powdery substance was discovered by postal inspectors before reaching Neal's Pittsfield office in the Silvio O. Conte Federal Building.
 
Nearly 40 members of Congress have received envelopes containing white powder, according to The Guardian. More than 100 letters are thought to be in the U.S. mail system and the FBI, Capitol Police and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service were investigating the mailings that have also been sent to elections officials in various states. 
 
The mailings have been sent to both Republican and Democrat officeholders and several congressional district offices had to be evacuated in the last week or so after envelopes were opened in them. 
 

Earlier today, my Bronx district office received an envelope delivered by mail that contained a suspicious substance. Local law enforcement responded swiftly and, after investigating, determined the substance to be non-hazardous.

— Rep. Ritchie Torres (@repritchie.bsky.social) October 16, 2026 at 3:10 PM
The Guardian reported that the FBI is warning officials to look for envelopes processed through a north Texas center and that carry a postmark or stamp stating "Thinking of You."
 
The Eagle states that Neal's office was alerted on Saturday that it might be getting a suspicious package; inspectors seized the envelope at the Fenn Street post office on Monday.
 
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