A Last Ditch Effort on Norwood Hospital

State Rep Marcus Vaughn from Wrentham has joined two lawmakers representing Norwood still trying to save the last vestiges of Steward Health Care's network in Norwood and Foxborough. The two filed proposals nearly a month ago to keep outpatient clinics open as they also seek to revive construction at Norwood Hospital, but the bills have idled and the license central to the operations is set to expire on Tuesday. Still Vaughn and others representing the region see a need to persist until the last moment, when the existing license expires.

Steward last month announced its intent to abandon the hospital, which closed in June 2020 after catastrophic flooding, and four affiliated facilities that have continued to operate under the same Norwood license. The early October proposals from Rep. John Rogers and Sen. Mike Rush didn't even warrant a public hearing since their filing and now the Legislature is out of session until after the license expires.

The proposals (H 5097 / SD 3470) authorize and direct the Department of Public Health to extend the license "in order to maintain the provision of health care services, including, but not limited to, the provision of chemotherapy, radiation, radiology, and other forms of life-saving health care and therapies and studies" in facilities in Norwood and Foxborough. The petitions, filed on Oct. 7, specifically mention Norwood Hospital Cancer Center, Norwood Performance Therapy, "Foxboro" and "any other such facilities" operating under the license.

The House sent Rogers's petition to the Joint Public Health Committee on Thursday, Oct. 31 and the Senate concurred in that action Monday. The Senate on Monday also referred Rush's petition, which hasn't received a bill number yet, the Joint Health Care Financing Committee. The petitions propose emergency laws that supporters deem "necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health."

"Our offices have remained in constant contact with the Healey administration voicing the need to extend Norwood Hospital's license, set to expire on November 5th and to establish a task force to prioritize this issue, help secure a qualified buyer, and accelerate reconstruction efforts," Rush and Rogers said in a joint statement Friday to the News Service. "We will continue to work tirelessly to keep this issue at the forefront for all involved parties, aiming to restore critical healthcare services and ensure accessible healthcare for the people of Norwood and surrounding communities."

Asked whether DPH supports the proposals, a spokesperson for the Executive Office of Health and Human Services said the department does not comment on pending legislation.

Steward on Oct. 7 filed its notice with the state about shuttering Norwood Hospital and outpatient satellite campuses, prompting DPH to hold public hearings on the closures on Oct. 21 and Oct. 22. DPH, in a review dated Oct. 29, determined the hospital "is in fact an essential service necessary for preserving access and health status within the Hospital's service area" but said the "determination does not give the Department the power to mandate that the Hospital remain open."

In an Oct. 11 notice, Dr. Octavio Diaz, president of Steward's north region, wrote: "This is a challenging and unfortunate situation, and the effect it will have on the Hospital's patients, employees, and the community served is regrettable. SHC's overwhelming priority is to our patients, their families and our dedicated employees. We are committed to facilitating a smooth transition for those affected, while continuing to provide quality care to our patients. Among other things, SHC will work closely with the Hospital's patients to help them find the best possible care alternative and with our valued employees and health care professionals to assist during this difficult transition."

Construction on a new hospital for Norwood began in late 2021 but ceased this year after Steward stopped paying a contractor. Norwood Hospital was not involved in the Steward bankruptcy proceedings that resulted in two hospitals being shut down and six being purchased.

Rogers and Rush also filed legislation (HD 5356 / SD 3414) in September for UMass Memorial Health to operate Norwood Hospital, and for the University of Massachusetts Building Authority to issue bonds to buy and finish construction of the facility. UMass Memorial Health previously said it "has no plans to take over Norwood Hospital and was not involved with the development or drafting of this legislation."

That bill has gone nowhere. The Senate referred Rush's petition to the State Administration and Regulatory Oversight Committee on Sept. 16; the House has yet to take any action. Rogers's identical petition has been stalled in the House Rules Committee since Sep. 19.

After filing their more recent plan to extend the Norwood Hospital license, Rogers and Rush joined with colleagues to explain their request to DPH Commissioner Robbie Goldstein. In an Oct. 18 letter, they wrote that the expiring license "creates further issues for a region already facing the negative impacts of the closure of Norwood Hospital over the last four years" and that losing the outpatient clinics ensures that a "multitude of patients' access to lifesaving treatments are terminated."

"Those receiving treatments such as chemotherapy administered at Norwood Hospital Cancer Center at Foxboro deserve better than this," the letter said. "Many patients who are facing some of life's biggest challenges will suddenly need to locate a new provider to receive treatment. Furthermore, many healthcare professionals will suddenly be out of a job."

The letter was signed by 13 lawmakers representing constituents in the affected region. In addition to Rogers, Rush and Vaughn, Sens. Paul Feeney, Rebecca Rausch and Walter Timilty, and Reps. Jay Barrows, Paul McMurtry, William Galvin, Edward Philips, Gerard Cassidy, James Arena-DeRosa, and James Hawkins signed on. Extending the license will "allow for these patients to have more time to find a new location to receive their treatments and to ensure that medical professionals are not immediately put out of work," they said.

"Understanding that Steward Health Care has filed for bankruptcy, we know that this extension can not be long-term, though we do need to ensure that those who are most negatively affected by the closure of these facilities have this necessary flexibility," the letter said.

Steward, in a U.S. Bankruptcy Court filing last month, said that most patients at the satellite facilities will complete their treatment before Nov. 5 and be provided with any necessary information about making follow-up appointments with "replacement providers."

State officials have said many Norwood-based physicians have transitioned to Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton, and that the MassHire Rapid Response team was assisting employees at the closing clinics. Patients who need to shift away from Norwood Hospital-based clinics to other providers are encouraged to seek care at Good Samaritan, Morton Hospital in Taunton, Sturdy Hospital in Attleboro and the MGB Health Care Center in Foxborough.

Developers or hospital operators interested in finishing construction and reopening Norwood Hospital must make a deal with Steward's landlord, Medical Properties Trust, and apply to DPH for a determination of need for substantial capital expenditure, according to state officials.

"The situation surrounding Norwood Hospital is deeply concerning, and we recognize the impact this ongoing healthcare crisis has had on families across Norfolk County," Rogers and Rush said. "Together, we remain dedicated to ensuring Norwood Hospital finds a qualified buyer and continue reconstruction to meet the healthcare needs of the community."