Carney Hospital, a longstanding community institution in Boston, closed its doors this past August along with Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer, as a result of Dallas-based Steward Health Care’s bankruptcy. This has left patients who depended on these facilities scrambling to find new options, putting additional stress on already strained hospitals and emergency rooms. The closure of Carney has led to critical gaps in access to care in the area, prompting Mayor Michelle Wu to convene a working group to study the impact and issue recommendations.
Legislators at both the state and federal levels are working to address the aftermath of Steward’s collapse. A bill aimed at preventing similar situations in the future is currently tied up in a joint House and Senate conference committee. Meanwhile, federal lawmakers, including Senators Warren and Markey, are expressing concerns about the private-equity firm that has taken over Steward’s physicians’ network.
Despite the challenges posed by Steward’s bankruptcy, state Health and Human Services Secretary Kate Walsh has refrained from blanket condemnation of private equity ownership of hospitals, acknowledging the need for innovation in the healthcare system. Steward’s former hospitals in Massachusetts, including Good Samaritan Medical Center and Saint Elizabeth’s Medical Center, have been sold to new owners, with Lifespan Health System taking over hospitals in Taunton and Fall River.
While there is optimism about the ability of new owners to rebuild and operate these hospitals successfully, some, like U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch, remain cautious. The aftermath of Steward’s collapse continues to be a challenging and ongoing process for the community and healthcare sector.
Source
Photo credit www.masslive.com
