Rep urges hospital property owner to 'cut a deal' and 'get out'
Lawmakers have sent Gov. Maura Healey a bill designed to unlock a new future for a hospital property in Norwood and a lawmaker from that town delivered a late-night speech Friday imploring the property’s owners to “get out” of Massachusetts. With Healey’s signature, the legislation (H 5553) would give Massachusetts the authority to take the property occupied by the under-construction Norwood Hospital by eminent domain. Rep. John Rogers of Norwood addressed the property’s landlord — Medical Properties Trust, an Alabama-based real estate investment trust — on the House floor before the branch concluded its last scheduled formal session of 2026. “To Medical Properties Trust, way say to you get out, get out of Massachusetts,” Rogers said. “We don’t want you here anymore — not sure we ever did. The men and women of the House of Representatives here in Massachusetts voted to chase you out. But we’re going to give you three months, three months. Cut a deal with a qualified nonprofit hospital operator that we’ll accept.” Norwood Hospital closed in 2020 due to catastrophic flooding and is the last relic of the Steward bankruptcy saga. Construction on a new building stalled when Steward went bankrupt, and MPT continues to control the property. “Today we kicked out the last remnant of that disgraceful business system,” Rogers said after the House and Senate enacted the bill, which is designed also to put pressure on MPT to find a new hospital operator before the state intervenes. Rogers chaired the Ways and Means Committee during House Speaker Thomas Finneran’s tenure but lost out on his own bid to become speaker to Robert DeLeo. In his remarks, Rogers praised current House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz and House Speaker Ron Mariano, who he called “the perfect speaker at the perfect time” due to his knowledge of the state’s health insurance system, “the nuances” between Medicare and Medicaid, and “our fragile hospital system.” The bill calls for the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance to use a competitive bidding process to seek nonprofit healthcare buyers. DCAMM could delay the competitive bidding or land taking “if a sale, lease or agreement between MPT of Norwood-Steward, LLC and a health care operator appears likely to result in near-term execution.” DCAMM would also value the Norwood property, an appraisal that would need approved by Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro. “Cut a deal,” Rogers said on the floor. “If you don’t, the people of Massachusetts, through their elected representatives, will cut you off now and forever. And you’re gonna hate that alternative because you’re gonna make a fraction when the government buys you out of the price you would have enjoyed had you made the deal in the private sector in the first place.” Mass General Brigham walked away from negotiations to buy the property earlier this year, after MPT increased its asking price from $250 million to $375 million, The Boston Globe reported. Tony Mazzucco, Norwood’s general manager, has estimated the property is worth around $75 million as a hospital. A spokesperson for MPT distributed a fact sheet last week that said the firm has invested over $350 million into rebuilding Norwood Hospital and that “under the right set of circumstances, will consider funding even more—as much as the $150 million estimated to complete clinical construction.” “The fastest and least costly way to reopen Norwood Hospital is to let MPT finish construction of the facility and find a qualified operator,” the fact sheet said. “The Commonwealth of Massachusetts should work collaboratively with MPT to ensure the chosen operator receives the determination of need (DoN) necessary to sustain operations at Norwood.” Rogers said 29 states “still have their hospitals held hostage by MPT,” alleging their corporate mission is “solely to put profits over patients. ”Pay heed, we say to you, our sisters,“ Rogers said, addressing other states. ”Pay heed. Watch what we do here in Massachusetts, and then follow suit.“ [Ella Adams contributed reporting.]