The Massachusetts Senate voted on July 29 to approve S.3231 which would authorize the state to acquire Norwood Hospital through eminent domain, with the hope that the hospital could be transferred to a new, nonprofit operator. The Senate's vote follows the House's approval of H. 5553 on July 1. With a Senate amendment, the bill returns to the House for further consideration.
Under the bill, the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) would be authorized to take the property by eminent domain for the purpose of ensuring public access to health care. The Commonwealth would then transfer or lease the site to a qualified, nonprofit hospital operator.
The amended bill includes an emergency preamble, declaring it “necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health." If signed by the governor and enacted, legislation could take effect immediately, rather than after a default waiting period of 90 days.
“For too long, our region has paid the price while Steward abandoned this hospital, drove the company into bankruptcy, and walked away, leaving a half-built shell and families with nowhere close to turn in an emergency,” said Senate Majority Whip Michael F. Rush (D-Boston), the lead Senate sponsor of the amendment. Mr. Rush and his Senate colleagues provided remarks in a press release issued by the Senate.
Norwood Hospital has remained closed for six years, ever since catastrophic flooding occurred in June 2020, when about 5.75 inches of rain fell in 90 minutes, damaging and destroying the hospital’s mechanical and electrical systems, medical equipment, and building facilities. Although its for-profit operator Steward Healthcare began repairs and renovations, the company later declared bankruptcy. The hospital property was sold to a real estate investment trust, Medical Properties Trust, which reportedly raised its asking price by 50 percent during negotiations with a potential new hospital operator.
“After Steward’s private equity backers cashed out, Medical Properties Trust was left holding this site. Despite years of our best efforts, the owner has stonewalled the sale of the property to a competent provider and bargained with people’s lives," Senator Rush said.
“With this bill, the Commonwealth is stepping up to finish the job, and I will not let up until a trustworthy nonprofit operator has this hospital open, staffed, and serving the families who have waited far too long,” said Mr. Rush. He credited the efforts of state Representative John Rogers of Norwood, Senate President Karen Spilka, and Senator Cindy Friedman in championing the legislation.
“Enough is enough. Our Norfolk County and Greater Boston neighbors who relied on Norwood Hospital deserve more than a partially finished building that should have been completed years ago. It’s time for a responsible party to step in and finish the job,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “I’m grateful for Senator Rush’s leadership on this issue on behalf of our residents, and for his tireless work on behalf of his district and the Commonwealth. Thank you also to Senator Collins for prioritizing and diligently reviewing this bill, and to Senator Feeney for always speaking up for his district’s unique public safety needs.”
According to an interim report by the Norwood Hospital Task Force, Norwood Hospital's prolonged closure has had a documented negative impact on area residents' access to acute care, particularly cardiac catheterization services. Patients who previously would have been transported to Norwood Hospital instead have been subject to longer transport times to other area hospitals. Occupancy of nearby Beth Isreal Deaconess Hospital-Needham jumped from 65 percent in FY 2019 to 93 percent occupancy in FY 2023, while the percentage of ambulance transports reaching a hospital in under 30 minutes fell for nine out of 10 towns in the region. Towns in the area also experienced decreases in the percentage of ambulance crews being back in service within 45 minutes after a transport.
“Since Norwood Hospital first closed, I have heard the same message over and over again from municipal leaders, first responders, health care professionals, and patients: we need Norwood Hospital back now,” said Senator Paul R. Feeney (D-Foxborough). “Every day it remains closed, ambulances from communities across our region and throughout my district are forced to drive past an empty hospital that should be treating patients, only to transport them further away because of the health care void left by the corporate greed and mismanagement of Steward Health. Our residents deserve timely access to care close to home, pressure must be relieved at other hospitals, municipal EMS cannot afford to have limited resources tied up for hours, and they cannot afford to wait any longer.”
“We owe it to the people of Norwood to get their hospital back online and pursue the path that best protects patients, workers, and the long-term health of the community,” said Senator Nick Collins (D-South Boston), Senate chair of the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight. “Restoring this capacity would also reduce pressure on Boston’s hospital systems by ensuring more patients can receive care closer to home. This legislation gives us an opportunity to establish a responsible precedent for keeping essential healthcare institutions operating when the public interest is at stake.”
Patchy rain nearby, with a high of 66 and low of 63 degrees. Patchy rain nearby in the morning, light drizzle in the afternoon, overcast during the evening, patchy rain nearby overnight.
We used to spray our lawn with a company that said they used non-toxic chemicals. The loss of bees, frogs, pollinators and birds in our garden was dramatic.
Great topic! I'd love to see more from the environmental action committee on encouraging less use of pesticides/weed killers/fertilizers in town.
what a great way to encourage people to plant native, it gives me so much pleasure to see who is visiting my plants.
66° and Light drizzle