Massachusetts Nurses Association: June 20 State House Hearing to Examine Hospital Service Closures and Financial Transparency Bills as Healthcare Corporations Try to Shutter Maternity Services in Leominster, Addiction Treatment in Taunton
BOSTON, June 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The dangerous trend of hospital corporations choosing profits over safe and accessible patient care will come under scrutiny during a June 20 State House hearing when lawmakers hear from nurses, community members and other advocates about legislation aimed at overhauling the Commonwealth's essential health service closure process.
- Who: Nurses, physicians, community members, healthcare advocates and experts will be testifying about closures impacting a variety of communities.
- The hearing comes amid a healthcare crisis in Massachusetts created by hospital corporations prioritizing financial gain over patient safety and care access for years before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Understaffing is causing nurses to flee the bedside and entire communities such as Leominster and Taunton are threatened by maternity and addiction treatment closures.
- Since 2009, more than 40 hospitals or units have closed in Massachusetts, according to a review of public records.