State seizes St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Brighton to keep hospital open – Boston News, Weather, Sports

BOSTON (WHDH) – Gov. Maura Healey on Friday formally seized St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Brighton, taking control of the Steward-owned hospital as officials seek to preserve healthcare facilities in Massachusetts.

Healey previously outlined plans to take St. Elizabeth’s under eminent domain as part of a process to install Boston Medical Center as the hospital’s new operator.

Despite continued protests from the companies that control the land on which St. Elizabeth’s sits, Healey went ahead with the takeover.

“As Apollo (Global Management) continues to put its greed ahead of the health and well-being of the people of Massachusetts, we are taking steps to ensure St. Elizabeth remains open,” Healey said.

By moving operations from St. Elizabeth’s to Boston Medical Center, Healey said the state will “protect access to care for tens of thousands of patients and save thousands of jobs.”

Steward has been in the spotlight in recent months as it entered bankruptcy.

To date, a bankruptcy court has approved Steward’s request to sell five of its hospitals to other organizations, including Boston Medical Center.

Steward closed two other hospitals late last month after saying it could not find qualified buyers.

Earlier this week, the US Senate passed a criminal contempt resolution against Steward CEO Ralph de la Torre after he refused a subpoena to testify before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.

State officials were critical of Steward and openly worried about the impact of hospital closures. Unable to save Carney Hospital in Dorchester and Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer, Healey said he would work to preserve the remaining hospitals, including St. John’s Hospital.

In an offer made in August, the state proposed seizing St. Elizabeth’s using eminent domain and purchasing the land on which the hospital sits for $4.5 million.

Landowner Medical Properties Trust and lenders Apollo Global Management and ACREFI CS U fired back, rejecting the state’s offer and saying it “significantly undervalues ​​the real estate underlying St. Elizabeth’s,” according to the State House News Service.

ACREFI CS U threatened to “take any and all necessary measures” if state authorities remained firm on the $4.5 million price for the land.

Healey’s office acknowledged opposition to the state’s plans on Friday. While they did not outline expected next steps in the process, officials said taking St. Elizabeth’s “will allow the hospital to remain open and serving patients.”

Healey’s office said ownership transfers of Steward’s other hospitals in Massachusetts are expected to take effect Oct. 1.

At Ayer and Dorchester, new working groups are set to work together on recommendations for employees to “promote equitable access to health care,” following an announcement from Healey on Wednesday.

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