Massachusetts hospital operator Steward Health Care System abruptly pulled out from the Massachusetts Hospital Association (MHA) last week, reports The Boston Globe. Steward made the decision to leave because it has quickly transformed into a different type of healthcare provider, a spokesman told The Globe.
"At this point in the evolution of health care reform, and of Steward itself, we feel we can make a greater contribution as a single coherent voice with a unique constituency: a fully integrated, community-based accountable care organization," Steward said in a statement.
The growing owner of 10 Massachusetts hospitals hand delivered a note notifying the hospital association of its resignation, effective immediately.
The hospital operator has faced criticism for its aggressive expansion of the hospital market and physician groups, including recent acquisitions of doctors associated with Partners HealthCare and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Steward last month was named one of the 32 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services-recognized Pioneer Accountable Care Organizations and entered the insurance market with the launched Steward Community Choice.
The resignation of Steward, which pays for 11 percent of the association's dues, will be "difficult and challenging'' to the state association, according to MHA President Lynn Nicholas.
For more information:
- read the Boston Globe article
- check out the Worcester Business Journal article
- here's the Providence Business News article
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