BOSTON — Gov. Maura Healey announced Friday that the state will use eminent domain to “take control” of St. Elizabeths Medical Center in Brighton, and her administration is working on arrangements to save four other medical centers. Steward Healthcare Hospital Massachusetts is released from closure.
“We will permanently end Steward Hospital’s business in Massachusetts,” Governor Healey said at a press conference. “In doing so, we will protect access to health care in these communities and protect the jobs of the thousands of hardworking women and men who work at these hospitals.”
Agreements “in principle” have been reached to transfer St. Ann Hospital in Fall River, Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton, Morton Hospital in Taunton and Holy Family Hospitals in Haverhill and Methuen to new owners, but Healy said the private equity firms controlling them are not in a position to do so. Steward’s bankruptcy “Steward has not had the best interests of Massachusetts residents in mind when it comes to buying St. Elizabeths. In May, Steward declared bankruptcy and announced it would close all of its U.S. hospitals.” For Sale.
“Enough is enough,” the governor said in a statement. “I intend to take control of St. Elizabeths through eminent domain to facilitate the transition to new ownership and ensure the hospital’s survival.”
Eminent domain refers to the power of a government to take private property for public use.
Steward Hospital’s New Owner
If the deal is approved, Lawrence General Hospital would operate Holy Family Hospital, while Rhode Island-based Lifespan would take over Morton Hospital and St. Anne’s Hospital.
Healy said Boston Medical Center will take over management of Good Samaritan Hospital and St. Elizabeth Hospital once the state’s eminent domain process is complete.
Steward did not immediately comment when contacted by WBZ-TV about the state’s announcement.
Healey said his administration is working with lawmakers to develop a “fiscally responsible financing plan that includes cash upfront, capital assistance and maximizing federal funding” for the hospital’s ownership transfer.
Steward CEO Ralph de la Torre has long been accused of putting profits above patients and has been subpoenaed to testify before the U.S. Senate, where Sens. Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Bernie Sanders of Vermont have called him “the epitome of corporate greed.”
“I think it’s a win for Massachusetts because we’ve gotten rid of a really bad contractor,” Healy said of Steward.
Kearney Hospital and Nashoba Valley Medical Center remain closed
Healy’s new announcement: Planned closures Steward last month announced the acquisition of Kearney Hospital in Dorchester and Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer after receiving no qualifying bids.
State and local health officials on Tuesday warned Kearney employees that There are no plans to take over the facility. Healey said his administration is focused on finding new jobs for workers and transferring patients to new hospitals.
Governor Healey called the impending closure of these hospitals “a very depressing reality,” and said, “We will continue to work with these communities to do our best to safely relocate care and support staff in an emergency.”
So who is a qualified bidder?
“Unfortunately, the way this process is being done, the stewards will decide who the qualified bidders are, so it’s like having a fox in the henhouse,” said Dorchester city councilman John Fitzgerald, who is trying to save Kearney Hospital and doubts eminent domain is the solution.
“We learned today that this is due to a lack of qualified bidders for Mr. Carney. Are we actively working to bring qualified bidders to the table? Is having qualified bidders a legal requirement to use eminent domain? If not, eminent domain can be used. If so, what are we doing to create an environment to bring qualified bidders to the table?” Fitzgerald asked.
He plans to call state and city leaders now to answer those questions.
Norwood Hospital, Steward’s eighth hospital in Massachusetts, Closed Since being flooded due to heavy rains in June 2020.
