New Dana-Farber cancer hospital wins key state approval, despite Mass General Brigham concerns
'We appreciate the ongoing work of our regulatory agencies, including the Department of Public Health, to ensure that world-class cancer care is available to everyone who needs it,' said Dana-Farber President and CEO Dr. Benjamin L. Ebert after the vote. 'This is an extraordinary opportunity for Boston and the Commonwealth. While the incidence of cancer is rising, what we do now will determine our ability to meet the pace of the disease here and across the region.'
Speakers from the surrounding neighborhoods turned up to back the plan.
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'Here in Boston, there is a dire need for more cancer beds,' said state Representative Chynah Tyler, a Democrat whose district includes Longwood as well as neighboring Mission Hill and Roxbury. She said Dana-Farber's proposal to add about 2,400 jobs at the new hospital will create 'opportunities for people in my district.'
But a clinical representative from Mass General Brigham, the state's largest hospital and health system, called on state regulators to impose a condition, limiting the new cancer hospital to 126 beds, arguing that 300 more beds had the potential to increase health care costs, worsen traffic in the Longwood hospital district, and create more stress on area hospital emergency rooms.
'To add cancer beds to the Longwood area ... without a simultaneous increase in emergency room beds, will create even more patients at our Boston institutions at 7 am every morning,' warned Dr. David Ryan, chief of hematology and oncology and clinical director of Mass General Cancer Center.
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The council's approval was provisional as members await a final cost and market impact review from the state's Health Policy Commission. The approval is expected to take effect 30 days after receiving that review.
In a preliminary report on Feb. 27, the commission said the Dana-Farber plan would likely boost insurer spending on cancer care though some aspects of the plan could result in cost savings.
Robert Weisman can be reached at
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