PITTSFIELD â Berkshire Health Systems struggled financially in fiscal 2020 due to COVID-19. With the pandemic still raging, management is bracing for what could be another difficult and challenging year.
The high costs of COVID-related care, the state-mandated shutdown when the pandemic hit and inconsistencies in patient volume caused the countyâs largest employer to absorb systemwide losses that exceeded $65 million in fiscal 2020, according to figures released by BHS. Supplemental funding from federal and state agencies helped, but still, BHS recorded a $35 million deficit.
âFrom a financial standpoint, 2020 was, by far, the worst year we have ever experienced,â management stated in a letter sent to all BHS employees last month.