DPH Chief Deflects On Adequacy Of Steward’s Monetary Sources
BROOKLINE, MASS., JUNE 10, 2024…..State public well being officers are persevering with to brace themselves for the outcomes of Steward Well being Care’s chapter proceedings in Texas.
Division of Public Well being Commissioner Robbie Goldstein didn’t straight reply a reporter’s query about whether or not officers are involved that Steward, which operates eight hospitals in Massachusetts, is about to expire of cash.
Steward, which beforehand acquired a $75 million mortgage from its de facto landlord Medical Properties Belief, has stated it wants more cash by June 14, The Boston Globe reported. A chapter decide later gave Steward permission to provide “monetary sweeteners” to different lenders to safe extra financing, in accordance with the Globe.
“I feel we, similar to everybody else throughout Massachusetts, are watching what’s occurring within the courts down in Texas. We’re in communication with regional well being care suppliers right here in Massachusetts and thru the Steward system, and we’re doing all we are able to to collect the entire acceptable info,” Goldstein stated following an unrelated press convention in Brookline.
He continued, “I feel it’s most likely greatest for us all to observe what occurs within the courtroom system, and to guarantee that we’re ready, which is what we’re doing on the Division of Public Well being with our incident command construction and ensuring that we have now the suitable assets in place to behave ought to we have to.”
A federal chapter decide final week accepted the timeline for Steward to sell or auction its hospitals throughout the nation, together with a deadline for bids of June 24, apart from services in Florida, and gross sales hearings on July 11.
Goldstein, requested whether or not officers are getting ready for the chance that a few of Steward’s hospitals in Massachusetts may shut, invoked earlier remarks from Gov. Maura Healey.
“The governor has made it fairly clear that she’d wish to see Steward promote all of its services in Massachusetts to a brand new operator, and we’re working with the governor and throughout the administration to make that occur,” Goldstein stated. “We’re additionally ready for no matter may occur within the subsequent few weeks or months.”
DPH has deployed screens to Steward hospitals since January to make sure they’ve satisfactory provides, tools and staffing in a bid to guard affected person security.
“The message continues to be that the Steward services are open, that they’re protected, and that they’re offering high quality care,” Goldstein stated when requested whether or not screens had discovered something troubling in regards to the high quality of care being delivered at Steward hospitals. “And our screens are there to guarantee that it’s true each single day.”
