Press Releases

Congressman Richard E. Neal joined President and CEO of Berkshire Health Systems Darlene Rodowicz, Vice President of North Adams Regional Hospital Laurie Lamarre, Massachusetts Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services Kate Walsh, North Adams Mayor Jennifer Macksey, and local and state officials to commemorate the reopening of North Adams Regional Hospital (NARH) as a Critical Access Hospital (CAH).

Ten years to the day after NARH was closed, Congressman Neal commemorated the reopening of the hospital as a CAH. Prior to recent changes enacted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that affected the qualification for a CAH designation, NARH was ineligible, which ultimately led to the hospital’s closure in 2014. These changes were enacted by CMS after Congressman Neal advocated for the Biden Administration to address barriers to health care in underserved communities – including amendments to the federal government’s CAH criteria.

“Throughout my career in public life, I have stood by the notion that legislation changes lives. Today’s announcement is a living example of that belief, as the reopening of North Adams Regional Hospital will have a profound impact on communities throughout North County for years to come,” said Congressman Neal. “There are stark inequities in rural and underserved communities as it relates to our nation’s health system. That is why I have long advocated for changes that will address health equity and allow everyone to have a fair and just opportunity to achieve their highest level of health, regardless of who they are or where they live. I am pleased that after working alongside the Biden Administration, we were able to make substantial progress in that endeavor by changing the designation criteria for Critical Access Hospitals. This change is what ultimately allowed this hospital to reopen, and I am thrilled that communities in my district will be a significant benefactor.” 

“The reopening of North Adams Regional Hospital is a historic opportunity to advance the health and wellness of the Northern Berkshire community,” said Darlene Rodowicz, President and CEO of Berkshire Health Systems. “Expanding access to care for North Berkshire through a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) is a key part of our strategic plan; we are thankful to Congressman Neal and his Massachusetts colleagues in the House and Senate, our Berkshire state legislative delegation, the municipal leaders across North Berkshire and the many people in the community who have steadfastly supported our plans to reopen NARH to provide the highest standard of care that the North Berkshire community expects and deserves.”

Prior to the change in CAH criteria, CMS did not take into account geographic conditions that impact a patient’s ability to access care. Congressman Neal advocated for the Biden Administration to recognize the unique situations communities face, particularly addressing the types of roads that patients need to travel on in order to get to care. As a result, CMS redefined a CAH as being a hospital located more than a 35-mile drive, or a 15-mile drive in mountainous terrain or secondary roads, from any other hospital or CAH. This change allowed NARH to be designated as a CAH, enabling the hospital to receive higher payments from Medicare and offset the challenges of operating a full-service facility in a less populated area.

“Through BHS’s coordinated system of care, North Adams Regional Hospital will partner with Berkshire Medical Center and Fairview Hospital, the nationally recognized Critical Access Hospital serving south Berkshire, to provide comprehensive healthcare services across Berkshire County,” said Laurie Lamarre, Vice President of North Adams Regional Hospital.  “We look forward to the future of NARH-- our entire staff is proud to expand access to care as part of our mission to advance health and wellness for everyone in our community.”

Once reopened, NARH will be licensed to care for up to 18 patients, providing 24/7 emergency care, surgical care, outpatient services, and inpatient care. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health will be surveying the hospital’s inpatient unit for CMS a step that is required prior to certifying NARH as a CAH. The final timeline for that unannounced survey is expected to occur in the near future.

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