Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | January 26, 2026 | Worcester Business Journal 3 M.S. in Emerging Technologies Clarku.edu/MSET Artificial Intelligence | Cybersecurity | Cloud Computing Generous Scholarships for Central Massachusetts Residents Focused on Future Careers 100% Online Fast Track - No Application Required School of Professional Studies C L A R K U N I V E R S I T Y Fallon to be acquired by Mass General Brigham As health systems brace themselves for looming cuts to Medicaid, Worces- ter insurer Fallon Health is set to be acquired by Somerville-based Mass General Brigham Health Plan, creating what is expected to be the third-largest insurer in Massachusetts. "is reflects the outcome of Fallon Health's thoughtful and intentional process to identify a long-term partner aligned with its mission and strategic vision—one that ensures members continue to receive the care and sup- port they need now and in the years ahead," read Fallon's and Mass General Brigham's joint statement on Jan. 8. e healthcare systems see the union as an avenue to expand affordable access to care and boost care coordination, especially focusing on Medicare and Medicaid recipients. ere will be no immediate changes affecting Fallon Health members. e acquisi- tion comes five years aer Fallon dropped out of the commercial health insurance market to focus on gov- ernment programs like Medicare and Medicaid and two years aer Manny Lopes took over as Fallon's president and CEO. e deal will potentially elevate the Mass General Brigham plan to become the third-largest health insurer in Mas- sachusetts. Mass General Brigham is the fourth-largest insurer with 230,254 Massachusetts members as of Dec. 31, 2024, representing a 10.11% share of the Massachusetts market in the fourth quarter of 2024, according to data col- lected by WBJ's Research Department. Fallon's plan is the seventh-largest, with 127,844 Massachusetts members, repre- senting a 5.61% share of the market. As of Q3 2025, Mass General Brigham had 405,028 members and Fallon had 148,011, according to data provided by Fallon. e current third-largest Massa- chusetts insurer is Tus Health Public Plans, with 329,708 Massachusetts members. Saint Vincent names interim CEO Aer posting a job opening for a new CEO late last year, Saint Vincent Hospital has listed an interim executive to the position on its website, as Denten Park is no longer named as the leader of Central Massachusetts' second-largest hospital. As of the morning of Jan. 14, Saint Vincent no longer names Park as its CEO on its web- site. In his place, Adam Bracks has been listed as interim CEO of the Worcester hospital by Tenet Healthcare, the Dallas-based operator of Saint Vincent. Bracks has been named an interim CEO of only Saint Vincent and not the entire Massachusetts market for Tenet, despite the website saying as much on Jan. 14 morning, said Shelly Weiss Friedberg, director of public relations for Tenet. e hospital is planning on updating the website to more accurately reflect Bracks' title. Tenet wouldn't confirm Bracks' background information. A healthcare executive named Adam Bracks has previously led hospitals in Arkansas, Missouri, and Tennessee, according to his LinkedIn profile. He most recently served as CEO of Southwestern Medical Center in Oklahoma. Saint Vincent is the second-largest hospital in Central Massachusetts, with 290 licensed beds, according to data compiled by the WBJ Research Depart- ment. UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester is the largest in the region, with 826 licensed beds as of the second quarter of 2025. Park's exit comes aer Saint Vincent posted a job listing for a new CEO late last year. e job was still active on Ten- et's website as of the morning of Jan. 14. Park joined the Worcester hospi- tal as CEO of both the facility and of the Massachusetts Market of Tenet in February 2025 following the abrupt exit of Saint Vincent's former leader Carolyn Jackson, who held the position for six years. at was significantly longer than the 14-month tenure of her predecessor, Jeffrey Welch. During Jackon's tenure, Saint Vincent nurses held the longest nurses strike in Massachusetts history, ending aer 301 days with a ratified contract, the Massa- chusetts Nurses Association, the labor union filed hundreds of complaints against the facility, and the state's De- partment of Health launched a number of investigations into the facility. Don't repeal legalized marijuana After cannabis sales hit a $1.65-billion record in 2025, a proposed Massachusetts ballot initiative is attempting to repeal the use of recreational marijuana. Those opposed to the ballot initiative filed an objection on Jan. 2, claiming signature gatherers only showed voters the backside of the petition, which doesn't include the summary of the repealing bill. The recreational use of cannabis for adults became legal in Massachusetts in 2016 and recreational retail sales began in 2018. Recreational marijuana is legal in every state in the Northeast except for New Hampshire and Pennsylvania, where it is only legal for medical uses. No state has repealed its legalization of cannabis. When polled online, more than two-thirds of WBJ readers said Massachusetts should not repeal the legalized recreational use of cannabis. Should Massachusetts repeal recreational marijuana? No 68% Yes 32% Manny Lopes, president & CEO of Fallon Health Denton Park, former CEO of Saint Vincent Hospital Briefs continue on next page

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