Group Campaigns Against Mass General Brigham Expansion To Woburn

WOBURN, MA — A group including other hospital networks launched a campaign Tuesday against Mass General Brigham's plans to expand in Woburn and other communities across Massachusetts.

The hospital network announced plans in 2019 to build new facilities in Westwood, Westborough and Woburn as part of $2.4 billion in expansions. Woburn would get an outpatient surgery center at 2 Hill Street — part of "The Vale" redevelopment.

But other hospital networks are seeking to block the expansion. Among them are Wellforce, the network including MelroseWakefield Hospital and Lowell General Hospital, and Shields Health Care Group, which operates an imaging center in Woburn with Winchester Hospital.

The group, under the name "the Coalition to Protect Community Care," said in a news release that they are concerned about the "negative impacts" of the proposal. The coalition also includes organizations like United Way of Central Massachusetts and the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Mass General Brigham's expansion plan is before the Department of Public Health for approval.

Boston Business Journal reported that 18 groups have filed their opposition to the Woburn project with the department's Public Health Council, making it "one of the most controversial ever to be reviewed."

"The ambulatory services proposed are already offered by lower-cost, high-quality community providers in these regions – duplicating pre-existing services without increasing the quality of care and contradicting cost containment objectives set by the state to encourage the proper allocation of healthcare resources," the Coalition said in the news release.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.