Fall River and Taunton Steward-Run Hospitals to Get New Operators

BOSTON (WBSM) — Governor Maura Healey announced today that five Massachusetts hospitals currently operated by beleaguered Steward Health Care will transition to new operators, including Saint Anne’s Hospital in Fall River and Morton Hospital in Taunton.

The other hospitals are Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton and Holy Family Hospitals in Methuen and Haverhill. In addition, the Healey-Driscoll administration will take control of Saint Elizabeth’s in Boston “through eminent domain to facilitate the transition to a new owner and keep the hospital open,” the announcement stated.

Rhode Island-based Lifespan will take over operations of Saint Anne’s and Morton. The group already operates other hospitals such as Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro Children’s Hospital.

This comes after Southcoast Health had stated back in March the organization had a "strong interest" in acquiring Saint Anne's.

The deals are still in the process of being finalized.

“Today, we are taking steps to save and keep operating the five remaining Steward Hospitals, protecting access to care in those communities and preserving the jobs of the hard-working women and men who work at those hospitals,” Healey said. “Our team under Secretary Kate Walsh worked day in and day out to secure new, responsible, qualified operators who will protect and improve care for their communities. We’re grateful for the close collaboration of the Legislature to develop a fiscally responsible financing plan to support these transitions.”

The two Holy Family hospitals will be operated by Lawrence General Hospital, and Boston Medical Center will take over Good Samaritan and, eventually, Saint Elizabeth’s.

The Carney and Nashoba Valley hospitals in western Massachusetts will each close after not receiving qualified bids, the release stated.

The Healey-Driscoll Administration has also committed $30 million to keep the hospitals open through the end of the month. The release noted that all Steward facilities remain open and are treating patients.