Governor Maura Healey’s administration has emphasized the importance of ensuring quality care for patients during any potential transitions following the financial challenges facing the Steward health system, which operates nine hospitals in Massachusetts. The Department of Public Health placed monitors in the hospitals since January to address these issues.
In response to the significant debt, an incident command center has been set up as part of an emergency operations plan to improve communication among state officials, healthcare providers, and investors. Healey has been advocating for Steward to exit Massachusetts, and the sale of Steward’s physician network to Optum Care is currently under review by the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission.
Despite the financial challenges, all nine hospitals owned by Steward in Massachusetts remain open and operational. These include Morton Hospital in Taunton, St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Brighton, Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton, Holy Family Hospitals in Haverhill and Methuen, Carney Hospital in Dorchester, St. Anne’s Hospital in Fall River, Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer, and Norwood Hospital.
