Senator Marc Pacheco’s statement on Steward Health Care bankruptcy Hospitals will remain open through bankruptcy process

I am disappointed today to announce that Steward Health Care has filed for bankruptcy.

I want to assure members of our communities who rely on area Steward-owned hospitals like Morton Hospital in Taunton and Saint Anne’s Hospital in Fall River that hospitals will remain open and that patients should continue to seek care at these facilities.

The state has taken steps in recent months to ensure continued access to care at Steward facilities by placing Department of Public Health monitors on-site in hospitals to monitor patient care. A webpage, www.mass.gov/stewardresources,  and a call center, which will be launched later today, will also serve as a resource for those in the community with questions and concerns.

Steward’s presence in Southeastern Massachusetts and the impact a potential bankruptcy would have on all hospitals in the area was one of the issues discussed in the Senate Post Audit & Oversight hearing I led last month to understand how officials were preparing for uncertainties surrounding the area’s healthcare landscape. In the wake of the hearing, state officials announced the creation of an incident command system last week to lead emergency operation plans to enable better coordination across industry stakeholders and ensure that hospitals stay open for patients to keep receiving the acute care they need.

I want to commend the leadership of the Healey-Driscoll Administration, Executive Office of Health and Human Services Secretary Kate Walsh, Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robert Goldstein and other state leaders, in their continuous efforts to navigate this crisis.

I also want to thank the Massachusetts Nurses Association and SEIU 1199 for supporting the ongoing efforts of nurses, doctors, administrators, and other staff who are ensuring access to care by keeping facilities like Morton Hospital operating amid these challenging times.

Sincerely,
Senator Marc R. Pacheco