At an Earth Day event in Springfield, Massachusetts U.S. Congressman Richard Neal says restoring emergency services to the Northern Berkshires is a priority.
The Democrat says he has talked with Jonathan Blum, the deputy administrator with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on the final licensing needed to allow Berkshire Medical Center to open a satellite emergency facility in the region.
“We’ve been very aggressive in trying to get that emergency room situation cleared up with the waiver that is necessary,” Neal said. “I’ve talked to [Massachusetts] Attorney General Martha Coakley about it as well.”
North Adams Regional Hospital closed March 28th. A temporary restraining order allows BMC to operate a satellite facility while the assets of parent company Northern Berkshire Healthcare are sorted out in federal bankruptcy court.