# Top Boston Hospitals Clash as Mass General Brigham Medicare Advantage Plan Drops Dana-Farber

Mass General Brigham has removed Dana-Farber Cancer Institute from its Medicare Advantage network, escalating a dispute between two of Boston’s leading medical institutions. The move follows an earlier split in which Mass General Brigham separated from Dana-Farber as a clinical partner.

The decision means that patients enrolled in Mass General Brigham’s Medicare Advantage plan will no longer have in-network access to Dana-Farber for cancer treatment. The change affects older adults who rely on Medicare Advantage plans for coverage.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a nationally recognized cancer research and treatment center. Mass General Brigham is one of the largest health care systems in the Northeast. The two organizations had previously collaborated closely on patient care and research.

The breakdown in their relationship has implications for cancer patients in the region who may now face higher costs or need to switch providers to continue treatment at Dana-Farber. The dispute also highlights broader tensions in health care networks as hospitals and insurers negotiate reimbursement rates and network participation.

For the life sciences sector, the conflict underscores the financial and operational pressures that can disrupt established partnerships between academic medical centers and specialty hospitals. Such disruptions can affect patient access to cutting-edge cancer therapies and clinical trials, which are often concentrated at specialized institutions like Dana-Farber.

Source: [original report](https://www.statnews.com/2026/09/04/mass-general-brigham-medicare-advantage-network-cancer-treatment-dana-farber/?utm_campaign=rss)