Steward Health Care Files for Bankruptcy, Sparking Concerns about Healthcare Access and Stability in Massachusetts

Steward Health Care, a healthcare provider based in Texas, has filed for bankruptcy in federal court. The company cited reasons such as skyrocketing labor costs, inflation, and insufficient government reimbursement for its financial instability. Despite this, Steward does not anticipate any disruptions in its day-to-day operations as it goes through the bankruptcy process under Chapter 11 protection. Steward has secured $75 million in initial funding to support the reorganization.

Operating several hospitals in Massachusetts, Steward Health Care has faced criticism from the state’s congressional delegation, Governor Maura Healey’s administration, and others for failing to disclose the full extent of its financial troubles. The Massachusetts Nurses Association and healthcare workers union 1199SEIU expressed concerns about the potential impact of any hospital closures in the region, warning that it could have devastating consequences for residents.

Massachusetts’ Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kate Walsh, stated that the Healey administration has been preparing for Steward’s bankruptcy declaration. They are working with the company and potential partners to ensure an orderly transfer of ownership that protects access to care, jobs, and stabilizes the healthcare system. The unions are urging officials and industry leaders to take immediate action to preserve the facilities and transition to more stable ownership.

The situation is still developing as stakeholders work to find solutions to ensure continued access to healthcare services in the region where many of the local hospitals are now operated by Steward were acquired in 2010 from a not-for-profit local chain overseen by the Boston Archdiocese.