Steward extending reach into Central Mass.

Courtesy Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer is the lone outpost of Steward Health Care System.

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The second-largest healthcare provider in the state is making moves to extended outside of its Eastern Massachusetts stronghold through a new partnership with a 200 physician independent practice association based in Central Massachusetts.

The partnership between Steward Health Care System and Central Massachusetts Independent Physician Association (CMIPA), which has been approved by the member physicians according to Steward, would extend the influence of the healthcare provider. Steward has a minimal presence in Central Massachusetts with one hospital, Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer.

Gail Sillman, the CEO of CMIPA, said this partnership will benefit the organization and its patients.

“[Steward has] invested heavily in technology and infrastructure, and this partnership will allow CMIPA to retain its local autonomy and access the more sophisticated population health tools and resources to better manage our population across the entire spectrum of care,” Sillman said in a statement.

CMIPA represents more over 200 physicians, consisting of both community-based physicians and employed physicians and provides healthcare services to more than 30,000 patients. They will join Steward’s 3,000 providers who serve communities across Eastern Massachusetts, southern New Hampshire and northern Rhode Island.

CMIPA referral relationships with Central Massachusetts acute care facilities will not be affected by the proposed arrangement and will remain in place, according to Steward, although CMIPA physicians will now accept a broader set of insurance plans.

The Steward-CMIPA partnership will be subject to the standard state review process.