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By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN

GREENFIELD — Despite concerns circulating about the future of Baystate Franklin Medical Center after the passage of the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act that cuts roughly $1.1 trillion in health care spending, Baystate Health’s chief financial officer advises the Greenfield hospital is not at risk of closure.

By SAMUEL GELINAS

NORTHAMPTON — With millions invested in technology and staff, the hospital’s footprint growing with a new emergency department, and new education and transportation options, Cooley Dickinson Hospital’s new leader says the regional hospital is on course to offer some of the best health care services in the country.

By CHRIS LARABEE

More funding for the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) may be on the way in fiscal year 2026, as Gov. Maura Healey’s proposed budget, along with those put forward by the Senate and House of Representatives, all request more money than the current budget year.

By SAMUEL GELINAS

CHESTER — When the retail cannabis industry was paving its way in 2019, advocates for the drug steered away from the stereotype of a reclining, Cheetos-eating stoner and instead promoted the idea that cannabis is a cure-all for a variety of ailments. “It’s natural” was a common mantra.

By MAYA MITCHELL

Five years after the first case of what was then a novel coronavirus infection, health care professionals and state legislators worry Massachusetts isn’t ready if another pandemic were to happen.

By SAMUEL GELINASand CHRIS LARABEE

NORTHAMPTON — The bags for many customers checking out at Northampton’s Winter Market on Saturday were lighter than they used to be — something increasingly common since December.

By MELISSA KAREN SANCES

Her phone pinged and a grey bubble rose to the surface: “Are you ready to come back?”

By SAMUEL GELINAS

HAYDENVILLE — On Dec. 10 Angelique Britt opened her first business, Eventide Acupuncture and Integrative Health, in the Brass Works building at 132 Main St.

By SAMUEL GELINAS

AMHERST — As visitors from throughout the country toured ServiceNet’s successful Prospect Meadow Farm in Hatfield on Monday to learn about “care farming” — a therapeutic approach that combines agriculture and health care — Shawn Robinson shared the story of an employee who was thriving while working at the 18-acre property.

By ALISON KUZNITZ

State officials are preparing for the rollout of expanded maternal health care services in 2025, stemming from a new law and recommendations they issued last year.Public health officials said the bevy of reforms were fueled by the controversial...

By EMILEE KLEIN

BELCHERTOWN — The Board of Health has approved regulations prohibiting the sale of nicotine products within the town’s limits to anyone born after Jan. 1, 2004, making Belchertown the first municipality in western Massachusetts and the 11th in the...

By EMILEE KLEIN

GRANBY — Center Pharmacy is finalizing a $230,000 settlement with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office over allegations that the business on State Street submitted dozens of false claims to MassHealth — allegations the pharmacy’s owner...

By EMILEE KLEIN

In a “People’s Town Hall” that attracted over 300 attendees from 25 cities and towns across the region, state Sen. Jo Comerford reminded her “bosses” — the people — that they are the force behind democracy and to make their voices heard as the country...

By SOPHIA FALBO

BOSTON — A spike in whooping cough and pneumonia cases has prompted public health officials to closely monitor case levels at the local and state levels and emphasize vaccinations.Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein said last week that these...

By Staff Report

SPRINGFIELD — As it continues to recover from more than $300 million in operating losses over the past few years, Baystate Health this week took a first step in what it calls “transformational change” by eliminating 134 leadership positions.That...

By ALEXA LEWIS

AMHERST — When Ann Becker told local public health nurses about a new program that will provide them with support and mentorship, she said she got one common response: “It’s about time.”Becker, clinical associate professor and program leader at the...

By EMILEE KLEIN

BELCHERTOWN — The town’s Board of Health will vote to draft a generational nicotine sales ban on Wednesday, preventing anyone born after Jan 1, 2004 from ever purchasing tobacco products in town.Board members, along with Director of Public Health...

By ALEXA LEWIS

AMHERST — As rural western Massachusetts watches its populations steadily age, reliable, accessible health care only becomes more important. But since the COVID-19 pandemic, workforce shortages in the industry have been more pronounced than before,...

By CHRIS LARABEE

A big change will be coming to families who take advantage of the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP).Beginning in December, all families using HIP benefits, regardless of their household size, will see their monthly incentives reduced to $20, which is,...

By EMILEE KLEIN

HOLYOKE — U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren toured the Holyoke Health Center on Thursday afternoon to meet with health care professionals and trainees who will benefit from the $1 million she helped secure in March to begin a workforce training facility....

By NAOMI SCULLY-BRISTOL

NORTHAMPTON — Death is rarely planned, but Dan Winter knew he wanted to not only plan his death, but also share the story of it.Winter, 62, had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s, and after watching his father die slowly from the same illness...