August 13, 2026
Around 2,500 area residents with Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage are being notified that their insurance will no longer cover primary care providers affiliated with Cooley Dickinson Hospital beginning October 1.
Blue Cross Blue Shield issued a statement in which it said the insurance company was notified by Cooley Dickinson Physician Hospital Organization that a restructuring of business operations was prompting an end to the hospital’s participation in its Medicare Advantage network. However, Mass General Brigham, which owns Cooley Dickinson, issued a statement Wednesday that Blue Cross Blue Shield had notified it that its western Massachusetts primary care providers would be excluded from their network for BCBSMA Medicare Advantage plans.
In addition to the specialty and hospital care remaining in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield’s Medicare Advantage PPO plans, patients may also visit Mass General Brigham Express Care for non-life-threatening illnesses or injuries in Northampton, Amherst, Southampton and Greenfield.
Cooley Dickinson Medical Group providers also remain in Blue Cross’ commercial network.
Source: Daily Hampshire Gazette