Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey has taken decisive action to ensure the continued operation of St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Boston by seizing the hospital through eminent domain. This move comes in response to the bankruptcy of Texas-based Steward Health Care, which operates the hospital.
The administration plans to transition operations of St. Elizabeth Medical Center to Boston Medical Center, safeguarding access to care for thousands of patients and preserving numerous jobs. Last month, the administration successfully secured new operators for five out of seven hospitals previously managed by Steward Health Care in Massachusetts.
Lawrence General Hospital will now oversee both campuses of Holy Family in Haverhill and Methuen, while Lifespan will take charge of Morton and Saint Anne’s hospitals. Additionally, Boston Medical Center will assume operations of Good Samaritan Hospital. These changes in ownership are set to take effect on October 1.
Unfortunately, bids for the remaining two hospitals, Carney Hospital in Boston and Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer, were deemed inadequate, leading to their closure. However, a federal bankruptcy court recently approved the sale of Steward Health Care's other hospitals in Massachusetts.