Massachusetts lawmakers, including U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren and U.S. Representative Jake Auchincloss, are calling on a state oversight panel to ask tough questions of Rural Healthcare Group (RHG), the company that recently acquired the physicians’ network formerly owned by bankrupt Steward Health Care. RHG CEO, Benson Sloan, is expected to testify before the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission and Warren has asked the panel to ensure the company upholds its commitments to continue participating in MassHealth and maintain continuity of care for former Steward patients.
In a previous letter in September, Warren, Auchincloss, and Senator Ed Markey raised concerns about the sale of Steward Health Care to RHG and the potential negative impacts on Massachusetts residents. However, the regulatory panel concluded that the sale does not pose significant risks to quality of care or access to services in the state.
The lawmakers are urging Sloan and RHG to address concerns about clinical autonomy, potential price increases, and access to care for Massachusetts patients during the upcoming hearing. Despite the uncertainties surrounding the sale, RHG has stated its commitment to bringing its mission and approach to the state and preserving and restoring primary care infrastructure in Tennessee and North Carolina markets.
Sloan emphasized the importance of a thriving primary care infrastructure in supporting local hospitals and specialists, noting that primary care providers play a crucial role in directing patients to appropriate facilities. The hearing presents an opportunity for RHG to address the lawmakers’ concerns and provide assurances about the impact of the acquisition on Massachusetts patients and providers.
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