Massachusetts governor confirms use of eminent domain to maintain operation of hospital

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey recently declared that her administration has utilized eminent domain to acquire a hospital in order to ensure its continued operation and facilitate the transition to a new proprietor. St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Boston, part of a chain managed by Steward Health Care based in Texas, faced bankruptcy back in May, prompting the state’s intervention.
The hospital’s operations will be handed over to Boston Medical Center under this arrangement, Governor Healey revealed in a press statement, emphasizing that the goal is to safeguard healthcare access for tens of thousands of patients while also preserving numerous job positions.
This decision follows the administration’s announcement last month that it had secured new operators for five out of seven hospitals previously overseen by Steward in Massachusetts.
Among the planned transitions, Lawrence General Hospital is slated to take over both Holy Family campuses in Haverhill and Methuen, while Lifespan will oversee Morton and Saint Anne’s hospitals. Good Samaritan Hospital, on the other hand, will be managed by BMC. These changes in ownership are anticipated to be finalized by October 1.
Unfortunately, Steward Health Care received insufficient bids for the remaining two facilities, Carney Hospital in Boston and Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer, leading to their closure.
In a separate development, a federal bankruptcy court recently approved the sale of the other Massachusetts hospitals previously under Steward Health Care’s management. This comprehensive effort aims to maintain essential healthcare services in the region while navigating the challenges posed by bankruptcies and facility closures.