BOSTON — April 23, 2014 — Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), has joined the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA) provider network. Members of HMO Blue now have access to emergency and non-urgent services and can see any of the more than 70 physicians employed by SVMC.
"Southwestern Vermont Medical Center is known for providing exceptional, affordable, safe quality care, and we are truly thrilled about this new partnership," said Steven J. Fox, BCBSMA Vice President of Network Management and Communications. "We appreciate their willingness to immediately support our members affected by the North Adams Regional Hospital closure to ensure that they have continued access to the quality health care they need."
Southwestern Vermont Health Care serves more than 55,000 people in the towns and villages of Bennington County and western Windham County and Southern Rutland County in Vermont, eastern Rensselaer County in New York and Northern Berkshire County in Massachusetts.
"The closure of North Adams Regional Hospital has left residents in the northern Berkshires with questions about where to go for care," said Thomas Dee, President and CEO of SVMC. "As the closest hospital to Williamstown and North Adams, being able to provide care for these communities is a priority, and we are pleased to be a network provider for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts."
For more information about SVMC, to find a doctor or to schedule an appointment, call 802-442-6361. Members affected by the closure can also call a dedicated customer service line, 1-888-404-9846, Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. with any questions.
About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (www.bluecrossma.com) is a community-focused, tax-paying, not-for-profit health plan headquartered in Boston. We are the trusted health plan for more than 31,500 Massachusetts employers and are committed to working with others in a spirit of shared responsibility to make quality health care affordable. Consistent with our corporate promise to always put our 2.8 million members first, we are rated among the nation’s best health plans for member satisfaction and quality. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn.
About Southwestern Vermont Medical Center
A Magnet hospital for nursing excellence, Southwestern Vermont Medical Center is a full-service community hospital accredited by the Joint Commission. SVMC is home to the region's only nationally accredited breast care program as well as Southwestern Vermont Regional Cancer Center, a full-service cancer center accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. SVMC is part of Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC), an integrated health system serving Bennington and Windham Counties in Vermont and nearby communities in New York and Massachusetts. In addition to the hospital, SVHC consists of the Centers for Living and Rehabilitation, the VNA & Hospice of SVHC, the SVHC Foundation, and the SVMC Northshire and Deerfield Valley campuses. It also includes Dartmouth-Hitchcock Putnam Physicians, a multispecialty medical group operated in partnership with Dartmouth-Hitchcock.