Governor Maura Healey’s administration has taken action to ensure stable healthcare markets and continued access to care for patients in Massachusetts. The state has implemented an emergency operations plan in response to the financial troubles of the Steward health system, which owns nine hospitals in the state.
The system is currently facing millions of dollars in debt, prompting the Department of Public Health to place monitors in the hospitals since January. The emergency plan features an incident command center aimed at improving communication between the state, healthcare providers, and investors to ensure that patients receive quality care during any transitions that may occur in the future.
While Steward’s physician network has been sold to Optum Care, the sale still awaits review by the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission. Meanwhile, Steward’s nine hospitals in Massachusetts, including locations in Taunton, Brighton, Brockton, Haverhill, Methuen, Dorchester, Fall River, Ayer, and Norwood, remain open and operational.
