What does Mass General Brigham Expansion West
Mean for SHARE Members?
If you’ve seen the news lately, you may have seen the articles (here and here) about Mass General Brigham’s plans to build at new outpatient center in Westborough. Mass General Brigham (formerly “Partners”, now known as “MGB”) announced it plans to spend $400 million to build new ambulatory centers in 3 towns along the outer suburban ring of Boston -- Westborough, Woburn, and Salem, NH – as well as to expand their clinics in Westwood.
Competition for UMass Memorial
The SHARE Executive Board at Marlborough Hospital is particularly concerned about MGB taking away UMass Memorial patients since they would be close by. If patients decide to get their outpatient care there, they may drive into Boston when they need inpatient care too. If a substantial number of patients choose MGB, that could threaten jobs at Marlborough Hospital.
MGB is the largest provider of healthcare in Massachusetts, with notoriously deep pockets. They are locating these clinics in relatively wealthy towns, where there are more patients with private insurance. Hospitals get paid more for the care we provide by private insurance than by from Medicare, and especially by MassHealth (Medicaid). Some say that MGB is intentionally trying to attract the better-paying patients, while leaving safety net hospitals like UMass Memorial to care for the Medicare and Medicaid patients. That’s not good for the bottom line at UMass Memorial.
Making the Cost of Care Go Up?
The cost of care at Mass General Brigham is higher than at other providers in the state. Data from the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission showed that “As more outpatient procedures shift to Partners hospitals, costs overall go up.” These proposed new clinics could accelerate that trend. If UMass Memorial employees choose to get their care at the new MGB locations, it could increase the cost of health insurance for all of us.
DPH Approval Needed
MGB has to get approval from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health before building these new ambulatory centers. UMass Memorial and other health systems will probably want their voices to be heard in that process. SHARE plans to pay close attention to the proceedings, and to make SHARE members’ point of view heard.