• Assistance applying for, renewing, or resolving eligibility issues pertaining to MassHealth, ConnectorCare, Qualified Health Plans, or Health Safety Net (formerly known as Free Care) benefits
• MassHealth Disability Applications
• Premium Assistance Applications
• Medical Hardship: a program offered by Health Safety Net that allows patients to apply for relief from medical bills incurred from hospitals and community health centers within the past twelve months
• Referrals to:
  • Local pharmacies that offer discounted medications
  • Community Health Centers for both medical and dental services
  • Other local human service agencies including: WIC, SHINE, Community Legal Aid, Department of Transitional Assistance, Berkshire Community Action Council, et al

The following are some of the health coverage programs available to residents of Massachusetts:

• MassHealth
• MassHealth Premium Assistance
• Qualified Health Plans (including ConnectorCare)
• Health Safety Net & Medical Hardship
• Children’s Medical Security Plan
• Medicare Savings Program (MassHealth Buy-In)

The various programs available can cover the cost of provider visits, hospital stays, behavioral health & substance use disorder treatment, prescriptions, and emergency care.

Advocacy for Access of Berkshire Medical Center
510 North Street, Suite 8
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Monday – Wednesday, Friday: 8:15am to 4pm
Thursday: 9:30am – 4pm

• Walk-in assistance is available on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 8:15am to 3pm on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Appointments are available by calling: 413-445-9480

Advocacy for Access of Fairview Hospital
29 Lewis Avenue
Great Barrington, MA 01230
Monday – Friday: 8am – 4pm

•  Appointments are available by calling 413-854-9616. Assistance is also provided on a first-come, first-served walk-in basis

You will need to bring the following information and verification documents with you:

• Applicants under 65 years of age – English | Spanish
• Applicants 65 years of age or older – English | Spanish

Language interpretation services are available for all patients at both locations. This service is available free-of-charge.

When you see a doctor or other health care provider, you may owe certain out-of-pocket costs, such as a co-payment, co-insurance, and/or a deductible. You may have other costs or have to pay the entire bill if you see a provider or visit a health care facility that isn’t in your health plan’s network.

“Out-of-network” describes providers and facilities that haven’t signed a contract with your health plan. Out-of-network providers may be permitted to bill you for the difference between what your plan agreed to pay and the full amount charged for a service. This is called “balance billing.” tag. This amount is likely more than in-network costs for the same service and might not count toward your annual out-of-pocket limit.

“Surprise billing” is an unexpected balance bill. This can happen when you can’t control who is involved in your care—like when you have an emergency or when you schedule a visit at an in-network facility but are unexpectedly treated by an out-of-network provider.

Emergency services

If you have an emergency medical condition and get emergency services from an out-of-network provider or facility, the most the provider or facility may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount (such as copayments and coinsurance). You can’t be balance billed for these emergency services. This includes services you may get after you’re in stable condition, unless you give written consent and give up your protections not to be balanced billed for these post-stabilization services.

When you get services from an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, certain providers there may be out-of-network. In these cases, the most those providers may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount. This applies to emergency medicine, anesthesia, pathology, radiology, laboratory, neonatology, assistant surgeon, hospitalist, or intensivist services. These providers can’t balance bill you and may not ask you to give up your protections not to be balance billed.

If you get other services at these in-network facilities, out-of-network providers can’t balance bill you, unless you give written consent and give up your protections. Contact your health plan for assistance finding an in-network provider or facility.

You’re never required to give up your protections from balance billing. You also aren’t required to get care out-of-network. You can choose a provider or facility in your plan’s network.

• You are only responsible for paying your share of the cost (like the copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles that you would pay if the provider or facility was in-network). Your health plan will pay out-of-network providers and facilities directly.
• Your health plan generally must:
  • Cover emergency services without requiring you to get approval for services in advance (prior authorization).
  • Cover emergency services by out-of-network providers.
  • Base what you owe the provider or facility (cost-sharing) on what it would pay an in-network provider or facility and show that amount in your explanation of benefits.
  • Count any amount you pay for emergency services or out-of-network services toward your deductible and out-of-pocket limit.

More information about your rights and protections

• Visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises/consumers for more information about your rights under federal law.
• Visit www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-law-about-health-care for more information about your rights under Massachusetts state law.

Questions about a bill you received?

Contact our Patient Accounting department at 413-447-2929 if you have questions about your bill.

If you believe you’ve been wrongly billed, you may contact:

• Department of Health and Human Services at 800-985-3059, Website: www.cms.gov/nosurprises
• Massachusetts Attorney General’s office at 888-830-6277, Website: www.mass.gov/how-to/file-a-health-care-complaint