Newsletter Signup
Stay up to date on all the latest news from Boston.com
Massachusetts
Owner of multiple Mass. hospitals says financial losses could jeopardize care
Health
“This gap has only continued to increase and most community hospitals – including Steward hospitals in Massachusetts – are suffering losses that jeopardize their ability to continue to offer services.”
Steward Health Care, owner and operator of 10 Massachusetts medical centers, says financial difficulties are placing the future operations of their facilities at risk.
New England Sinai Hospital in Stoughton, Morton Hospital in Taunton, Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer, Carney Hospital in Dorchester, Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton, Holy Family Hospital in Haverhill and Methuen, Norwood Hospital, Saint Anne’s Hospital in Fall River, and St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Brighton are all in Steward’s network.
Steward said their facilities, and other community hospitals, face financial troubles that stem from the pandemic. Since then, the hospital group has been affected by a gap between commercial health insurance reimbursement and reimbursements from federal plans, which “meaningfully trails” commercial, they said.
Steward’s payor-mix, which is a hospital’s measure of patients’ insurance types, is more than 70% Medicare and Medicaid. Steward said this reimbursement gap is affecting community hospitals across the state.
In Massachusetts, the average hospital payor-mix is about 38% Medicare and Medicaid, according to Definitive Healthcare.
“Over the past decade plus, there has been a widening gap in reimbursement for all the state’s community hospitals compared to larger, academic medical centers,” Steward said in a statement. “This gap has only continued to increase and most community hospitals – including Steward hospitals in Massachusetts – are suffering losses that jeopardize their ability to continue to offer services.”
The medical group said they are working with Governor Maura Healey and Attorney General Andrea Campbell to address the disparity in reimbursements and to keep their doors open for communities.
“Steward is advancing an action plan to strengthen its liquidity, restore its balance sheet and put the tools necessary in place to continue forward as a key provider of healthcare services to our patients, communities, physicians, and employees,” their statement read.
In 2023, Compass Medical, a chain of care centers in South Shore, unexpected shut down, leaving 70,000 patients eligible for compensation.
Fire broke out at an apartment building in North Attleborough, Massachusetts, on Monday afternoon, sending a column of smoke high into the air.
NBC affiliate WJAR-TV reports the smoke was visible from miles away from the building on Juniper Road.
More details were not immediately available.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Life Care Center of Raynham has received a deficiency‑free inspection result from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, a distinction awarded to a small share of the state’s licensed nursing homes, according to a community announcement.
The inspection was conducted as part of the state’s routine, unannounced nursing home survey process overseen by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. These comprehensive, multi‑day inspections evaluate multiple aspects of facility operations, including staffing levels, quality of care, medication management, cleanliness, food service and resident rights.
State survey records show that Life Care Center of Raynham met required standards during its most recent standard survey, with no deficiencies cited, based on publicly available state data.
The announcement states that fewer than 8% of Massachusetts nursing homes achieve deficiency‑free survey results. That figure could not be independently verified through state or federal data and is attributed to the announcement.
In addition to the state survey outcome, the facility is listed as a five‑star provider for quality measures on the federal Medicare Care Compare website. The five‑star quality measure rating reflects above‑average performance compared with other nursing homes nationwide, according to federal rating methodology.
Officials said the inspection results reflect ongoing compliance with state and federal standards designed to protect resident health and safety. According to the announcement, the outcome is attributed to staff performance and internal quality practices.
This story was created by Dave DeMille, ddemille@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Shortsleeve joins “On the Record” to discuss his case for the corner office, the war in Iran and Massachusetts’ $63 billion budget. Hosts Ed Harding and Sharman Sacchetti also press him on a ballot question that would cut the state income tax rate.
-
Illinois2 minutes agoPPP Loan Scandal Busts Joliet Woman Working For Illinois Department Of Corrections: AG Kwame Raoul Reveals
-
Indiana8 minutes agoFernando Mendoza, citing Raiders obligations, misses Indiana’s White House visit
-
Iowa14 minutes agoIowa City police seek help identifying persons of interest in vandalism investigation
-
Kansas20 minutes agoBoeing makes $1 billion investment in Wichita facility
-
Kentucky26 minutes agoLiberty Trees planted throughout Kentucky
-
Louisiana32 minutes agoNeuty, the beloved Bucktown nutria rat that charmed Louisiana, has died
-
Maine38 minutes agoHow a data center derailed $240,000 for affordable housing in Wiscasset
-
Maryland44 minutes agoDC man wins $5M in Maryland lottery – WTOP News