Rep. Lori Trahan pushes for transparency amid Steward hospital closures

Congresswoman Lori Trahan is advocating for the preservation of two Steward Health Care-owned hospitals in Massachusetts, which are facing imminent closure. The hospitals, Carney Hospital in Dorchester and Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer, are set to shut down after Steward's bankruptcy declaration left them without immediate buyers. Trahan criticized Steward for their mismanagement, stating that the company created a crisis by neglecting the hospitals and prioritizing profits over patient care. The situation has escalated due to the rapid timeline of Steward's bankruptcy and the subsequent announcement of closures, which left little room for intervention. Trahan expressed her determination to ensure that Nashoba Valley Medical Center reopens under new ownership as soon as possible, highlighting the urgency of the matter for the local community. Trahan pointed out the lack of transparency in the private equity model of health care, which she believes contributed to the current crisis. She emphasized that the decisions made by Steward, including selling hospital land and taking large dividends, were detrimental to patient care and the community's health resources. The absence of regulatory oversight allowed these actions to occur without accountability. In light of these events, Trahan is calling for increased regulation and transparency in the health care sector to prevent similar situations in the future. She believes that without proper oversight, the health care system will continue to be vulnerable to the actions of profit-driven entities that disregard the well-being of patients and communities.