Ayer

State public health officials have scheduled public hearings on Steward Health Care's plans to close Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer later this month.

A U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge on Tuesday approved the agreement that Massachusetts state government made to provide $30 million in advance Medicaid payments to keep a handful of Steward Health Care hospitals here open through August as the company tries to sell them.

AMSC seeks to bolster its growing presence in the defense sector through the $61.4-million purchase of a NWL, a New Jersey-based firm.

More than 100 nurses from Carney Hospital and Nashoba Valley Medical Center flooded the hallway outside Gov. Maura Healey's office Wednesday morning, demanding that the state intervene and prevent bankrupt Steward Health Care from closing two hospitals in August.

A group of companies that are owed money from bankrupt Steward Health Care want a judge to mandate changes to the agreement that Massachusetts state government has to provide $30 million to support Steward hospitals "as they are transitioned to new operators in the near-term," taking issue with the way the deal gives the state the power to claw back the money.

Gov. Maura Healey said Monday that she lacks the authority to keep two Steward Health Care hospitals open, after the bankrupt company signaled Friday its intent to flout state regulations by prematurely shuttering Carney Hospital in Dorchester and Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer.

A proposed order filed in the Steward Health Care bankruptcy case outlines a "commitment" from state government in Massachusetts to provide $30 million to support Steward hospitals "as they are transitioned to new operators in the near-term."

The bankrupt Steward Health Care said Friday that it is closing two of its hospitals here in the next month or so -- Carney Hospital in Dorchester and Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer -- that received no qualified bids in its sales process.

Ernie Herrman, president and CEO of The TJX Cos. in Framingham, was the highest-paid CEO among Central Massachusetts public companies for fiscal 2023.

Dressed in white lab coats, nearly 200 physician assistant students and providers on Thursday pitched their potential to help solve a health care workforce shortage that could worsen given the challenges facing Massachusetts hospitals owned by Steward Health Care.