In the News

HOLYOKE, Mass. — A Massachusetts hospital has been granted $8.7 million in federal funding after stepping up during the deadly COVID-19 outbreak at the Holyoke Soldiers' Home.

The Holyoke Medical Center was one of the recipients in the second round of funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which will be distributing $10 billion to hospitals in areas that have been highly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Advertisement

U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, who represents Holyoke in the 1st Congressional District, and Spiros Haritas, the hospital's president and chief executive officer, announced Saturday that the Holyoke Medical Center would receive a portion of that funding.

“This money is a lifeline for providers who are caring for the COVID patients and others in the community who need quality health care, and Holyoke Medical Center is one of the best,” reads a statement from Neal, chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means. “The COVID-19 pandemic is first and foremost a health crisis. This funding will help support patients, providers, and front-line health workers. Holyoke also stepped up and took on patients from the Holyoke Soldiers Home when it was overwhelmed with COVID-related infections. Thanks to their help, many veterans received the care they needed during a troubling time.”

“Holyoke Medical Center, like other Massachusetts hospitals, has suffered significant financial losses in the fight against the pandemic,” Haritas said in a statement. “For a small stand-alone community hospital, the impact of the additional costs and the loss of revenue can mean financial ruin. Chairman Neal has tirelessly advocated for all hospitals, and very specifically for the most vulnerable hospitals, like Holyoke Medical Center. We are extremely grateful for the advocacy and the financial relief we received. This funding directly helps our nurses, doctors and front-line staff because it secures PPE, equipment and resources for the ongoing fight against the pandemic.”

A major COVID-19 outbreak at the Holyoke Soldiers' Home claimed the lives of at least 76 veterans who were living at the facility.

According to a report from independent investigator Mark Pearlstein, leaders at the Holyoke Soldiers' Home made "substantial errors" and "baffling decisions" in responding to the coronavirus pandemic.

The fallout from the outbreak led to resignations of the facility's assistant director of nursing and the secretary of the Massachusetts Department of Veterans' Services.

The superintendent of the Holyoke Soldiers' Home, Bennett Walsh, was placed on paid administrative leave at the end of March and the CEO of Western Massachusetts Hospital, Val Liptak, took over operations.

While the investigation declared Walsh "not qualified to manage" the facility, it did not find an effort to conceal cases or deaths at the home.

At least four investigations, including state and federal, have been launched into the response to the COVID-19 outbreak at the Holyoke facility.