Your voice and support can protect care for 32,000 Berkshire neighbors
Dear Friends,
I’m writing to you at a time of real uncertainty for CHP Berkshires and for community health centers across the country.
Federal and state policymakers have approved major cuts to Medicaid—cuts that pose a direct threat to Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) like ours. More than 40% of CHP patients rely on Medicaid to access the care they need and deserve.
Here in Massachusetts, the Medicaid program—MassHealth—has historically reimbursed community health centers fairly. But now, even that critical support is under pressure. And while many assume Medicaid is the biggest financial challenge we face, there’s another growing issue: commercial insurance plans are reimbursing us far below the actual cost of care.
CHP proudly serves all patients, regardless of ability to pay. But to keep our doors open and our services strong, we depend on fair and sustainable reimbursements. Today, we face a perfect storm: Medicaid cuts combined with unsustainably low payments from commercial insurers are threatening access to care for the 32,000 patients who count on us.
The stakes are high. CHP may be forced to scale back or eliminate essential services—like behavioral health, dental care, and chronic disease management—just to survive. These are not “nice-to-have” programs. They are core components of community health that help people stay well and live their lives fully.
When we lose these services, we don’t just lose care—we weaken the entire
healthcare delivery system in the Berkshires. We cannot let that happen. Now more than ever, your support is critical to protecting the future of CHP and the health of our region.
Here’s how you can help:
Advocate: Contact your elected officials to support Medicaid and fair reimbursement for health centers.
Share: Help spread the word by forwarding this message to friends and neighbors.
Donate: Your financial support helps us continue providing life-changing care during this time of crisis.
Over our 50-year history, we’ve faced many challenges—but this moment is especially urgent. Thank you for standing with us—and for being a champion of community health in the Berkshires.
With gratitude,
Bethany Kieley, CEO