Steward Health Care is looking to quickly sell 4 hospitals in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts lawmakers met with Steward Health Care amid concerns that financial problems could lead to the closure of some of the company-run hospitals in the state.

Dallas-based Steward Health Care, which reportedly owes $50 million in unpaid rent, operates Carney Hospital in Dorchester, Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton, Holy Family in Haverhill and Methuen, Morton Hospital in Taunton, Nashoba Valley Medical Center, and New England Sinai. Norwood Hospital and St. Anne's Hospital in Fall River and St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Brighton.

Rep. Stephen Lynch said Steward wants to sell four hospitals as soon as possible, including the Norwood facility, which has been closed since June 2020 due to flooding. Steward was moving forward with plans to rebuild the facility.

The company also wants to close Nashoba Valley Medical Center, St. Elizabeth Medical Center and Holy Family Hospital, Lynch said.

State officials were surprised by the announcement and are now scrambling to keep Steward Hospitals open, Lynch said.

“They have expressed their intention to exit the Massachusetts health care market,” Lynch said. “They own nine hospitals. How do you manage that well?”

“(I) haven't seen a plan from Steward,” Gov. Maura Healey said. “Steward hasn't given anything away. People should know that – our goal will be to protect patients, protect jobs, and stabilize the Massachusetts health care system.”

The Massachusetts congressional delegation sent a letter to Steward's CEO reminding him of the significant impacts on patient care if they decided to withdraw from their health care business in the state.

“This is happening at a time when there is an increase in cases now due to COVID, so we are seeing an increase in demand,” Lynch said. “I was very surprised, and I think I speak for the entire congressional delegation on this.”

Management downplayed reports of the closure in an email to employees obtained by WCVB.

“We are working hard to address the challenges we face and are working diligently with our lenders to secure additional financing that will go a long way toward normalizing hospital operations,” Executive Vice President Michael Callum said in an email to employees Thursday. .

Callum also wrote: “We have not asked the state and do not currently believe we need any form of government bailout.”

Mass. Gen. Brigham said that surgeries and procedures scheduled for one of Steward's hospitals were transferred.

“After hearing that some surgical equipment may not be available, we made the decision to reschedule upcoming orthopedic and gastrointestinal procedures at Holy Family Hospital,” said Tom Seaquist, chief medical officer at Mass General Brigham Hospital.

“We deeply regret Mass General Brigham’s decision to stop performing surgeries at Holy Family Hospital, a facility that serves a vulnerable patient population in their community who need and deserve quality health care close to home,” a written statement from Steward Health Care said. .

“The fact that one of the largest health care providers in Massachusetts has canceled its care underscores the fact that Steward Hospitals is neither receiving the support it needs, nor the recognition for the quality care they provide,” the written statement said.

The president of Holy Family Hospital announced Friday that he will step down to take another job.

It serves a large number of Medicare and Medicaid patients, and they are not reimbursed for that care to the extent they need to be, Steward said.

“Our focus will be on making sure that patients across this state, including anywhere there is a Steward facility, have access to care, that jobs are protected and that the health care system is stable,” Healey said.

The company employs more than 16,000 nurses, doctors and other essential health care workers in the state.

Video below: A group physician talks about what Steward Health's issues mean for patients