BOSTON — A Texas bankruptcy judge on Thursday is set to consider a plan to transfer ownership of several of Steward's Health Care System hospitals and the seizure of another facility by the state government. Gov. Maura Healey announced on Friday that Lawrence General Hospital would take over Holy Family Hospital in Haverhill and Methuen while Lifespan, a Rhode Island-based company, would buy Morton Hospital in Taunton and St.
Anne’s Hospital in Fall River. Healey also said the state will take over St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Brighton by eminent domain until it can be placed under the Boston Medical Center as its new owner.
The plan, details of which haven't been released, needs to be approved by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez, who is overseeing the company's Chapter 11 proceedings.
The hearing is set for Thursday at 2 p.m. in his Texas courtroom.
The move comes in response to the Texas based company's delays in finalizing plans for the sale of its hospitals in the state as part of the bankruptcy proceedings, which has drawn scrutiny from Healey and other state leaders. Steward has delayed that sales hearing at least five times. Steward plans to put its 31 U.
S. hospitals up for sale to pay down $9 billion in outstanding liabilities owed to creditors. The company filed for federal bankruptcy protections in May.
The company plans to close its hospitals in Dorchester and Ayer after failing to reach adequate terms with prospective buyers. The pending sale of the oth.