Copyright berkshireeagle
GREAT BARRINGTON — Citing financial concerns, the Brien Center will close its Great Barrington site at the end of January, President and CEO Diana Knaebe said. The Brien Center is facing funding challenges due to reduced state funding, along with delays and denials in reimbursements from Medicaid, Medicare, and commercial insurers. The nonprofit provides mental health and substance-use recovery services for people of all ages, according to its website. Its North Adams and Pittsfield locations will remain open, Knaebe confirmed. "As we look at our ongoing increases in cost ... and decreases in the amount of revenue that are coming in, we have to make some pretty serious decisions about what we do to maintain the 100-plus years that Brien Center has been here for people in the Berkshires, and wanting to make sure that we can continue for many years," Knaebe said. The decision to close the Great Barrington location on Cottage Street came down to the site being the least visited and it also hasn't generated enough revenue to cover the cost of continuing services there, she said. The nonprofit hopes to offset the cost by selling the building. "Unfortunately, that means we sometimes have to make some pretty difficult decisions that we know are going to impact individuals," Knaebe said. "But we have to make those decisions based on what's best for all individuals within the Berkshires, to make sure that we can have at least the core services for those individuals when they need them." The center is in the process of working out the next steps with each of its Great Barrington clients to determine what their best options are. Clients will receive a letter laying out the available options. That could be telehealth services, transferring to the Pittsfield site to continue getting in-person care or working with a community partner to find another option. Community partners and group practices that accept Medicare and commercial insurance are being gathered as referral sources for clients, as well as for those seeking care. "It's unfortunate, because we know, especially with things that are going on all over right now, that people are experiencing unanticipated financial pressures and more cuts have been coming down," Knaebe said. "This is a time when more and more people are actually needing behavioral health services. So, it's not something that we wanted to do." Those looking to support the center, Knaebe said, can contact legislators asking them to ensure funding continues or make a donation through the Brien Center's website. "We'll revisit it in the future to see if it's something that we can look at," Knaebe said. "Opening up or leasing some space somewhere in the south. We're not totally giving it up, but at this point in time, we're just not able to maintain our services down there."
