Steward has "definitive agreements" to sell some hospitals in Massachusetts
BOSTON - Steward Health Care said Thursday it has "definitive agreements" to sell three of its hospitals in Massachusetts, as Gov. Maura Healey says the state is closer to being rid of the bankrupt company "once and for all."
Rhode Island-based Lifespan has filed an asset purchase agreement to buy Saint Anne's Hospital in Fall River and Morton Hospital in Taunton. Lawrence General Hospital is set to buy the Holy Family hospital campuses in Methuen and Haverhill.
"As Steward continues to progress through the ongoing Chapter 11 proceedings, we are thrilled to have identified such qualified acquirers for hospitals in the Commonwealth that are critical to the health of underserved populations," Steward's chief restructuring officer John Castellano said in a statement.
The company said in May it would put all of its U.S. hospitals up for sale.
Good Samaritan Hospital agreement signed
On Friday, Gov. Maura Healey announced that Boston Medical Center has signed an asset purchase agreement to acquire Good Samaritan Hospital in Brockton.
Healey also announced BMC and Steward reached an agreement to transfer the operations of St. Elizabeth's in Brighton to BMC while the state moves forward with its plan to take the hospital by eminent domain.
"We've said from the start that our focus was on protecting access to care, jobs and the stability of our health care system - and getting Steward out of Massachusetts. With this third agreement signed, we are delivering on those promises," Healey said Friday. "We'll continue to press ahead with our plans to take St. Elizabeth's by eminent domain to keep that hospital open."
The companies that own the real estate of St. Elizabeth's have pledged to "vigorously challenge" the state's $4.5 million eminent domain offer in court, according to the State House News Service, saying it significantly undervalues the property.
The agreements will have to be approved by the bankruptcy court at the upcoming hearing on Wednesday, Sept. 4.
Advocates have called on the governor to step in and save Steward's Carney Hospital in Dorchester and Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer, which are slated to close Saturday. But Healey has said there were no qualified bidders and the state is unable to run those facilities.
