Haverhill

Gov. Healey Signs $234M Hospital Aid Bill—Local Hospitals Among Those to Benefit

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Gov. Maura Healey signed a $234 million aid bill Monday that will help cover expected shortfalls at hospitals across the state, including the former Lawrence General and Holy Family Hospitals, now known as Merrimack Health, and Anna Jaques Hospital. The state Center for Health Information and Analysis gave an estimated allocation breakdown to State House News Service. While specific hospital amounts are not yet known, the agency said hospitals qualifying for a share of a $20 million allocation include Lawrence General Hospital, Baystate Wing Hospital, Heywood Hospital, Holyoke Medical Center and Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital. Those qualifying for a share of a $41 million allocation include Holy Family Hospital, Anna Jaques Hospital, Boston Medical Center, MetroWest Medical Center, Morton Hospital and North Shore Medical Center. “Massachusetts has a world-class healthcare system and funding like this helps keep it strong.

Haverhill

Legislators Say State’s Emergency Medical Relief Package Benefits Local Hospitals, Health Centers

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A $234 million emergency medical package passed last Thursday is expected to bring needed aid to local hospitals as they enter a second year of local ownership following the collapse of Steward Health Care. The legislation, approved by both branches and sent to Gov. Maura Healey for her signature, includes $199 million for acute care hospitals statewide and $77 million to reimburse hospitals and community health centers for services to uninsured and underinsured residents. Community health centers will receive an additional $35 million, including $2.5 million earmarked for shared services. The money is intended to help offset rising costs and federal funding shortfalls. Sen. Pavel M. Payano said Friday Lawrence General Hospital and Holy Family Hospitals in Haverhill and Methuen, now operating as Merrimack Health, are expected to “benefit significantly” from the money.

Haverhill

Holy Family, Lawrence General Hospitals Now All Under the ‘Merrimack Health’ Name

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(Additional photograph below.)

Holy Family Hospital in Haverhill and Methuen ushered in a new name—Merrimack Health—Tuesday as part of a long-expected rebranding to bring the hospitals and Lawrence General Hospital under one umbrella. Hospital officials flanked by Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Kimberly L. Driscoll and state and local officials unveiled the new name and logo in a ceremony at what was Holy Family Hospital Methuen. Interim President and CEO Diana Richardson stepped up to the mic and joked this is the last time she would introduce herself in her role at Lawrence General. Richardson said the name change marks an important milestone in the initiative officials at Lawrence General undertook nearly a year ago when, with the state’s help, it purchased the two Holy Family campuses from bankrupt Steward Health Care for $28 million. “We are not just unveiling a brand.

Haverhill

State Adds Mental Health Providers for Children Covered by MassHealth in Haverhill Area

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The state rolled out expanded behavioral, emotional and mental health services Wednesday for children who are MassHealth members—nearly half of all children in Massachusetts, the first additions to the provider network in more than a decade. Haverhill, Groveland, Merrimac and West Newbury children, for example, will be served by both Eliot Community Human Services of Lexington and Needham-based Justice Resource Institute. Lawrence, Methuen and North Andover will be served by Justice Resource Institute. The new network will offer more options for families, increase access to high-quality behavioral health services and ensure geographic coverage across the entire state, including for families seeking specialized cultural and linguistic care. “This expansion will strengthen the behavioral health system of support for hundreds of thousands of children and their families here in Massachusetts,” said Gov. Maura Healey in a release.

Beacon Hill News

Insurance Rebates Coming Soon For 350,000 People in Massachusetts

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By Michael P. Norton

More than 350,000 people in Massachusetts will begin receiving health insurance rebates in September. State insurance regulators said Tuesday the rebates total $75.6 million and benefit people covered by individual or small employer plans issued by five insurance carriers. In 2024, a similar round of rebates totaled $51.6 million. Rebates are required when an insurance carrier’s average medical loss ratio over a three-year period falls below the state threshold that requires insurers to spend at least 88% of premiums on health care services for individuals and small group policyholders. “These rebates are more than just numbers—they’re dollars back in the pockets of families and small business owners across the Commonwealth,” Insurance Commissioner Michael Caljouw said in a statement.

Haverhill

State Calls Services at Holy Family Hospital Haverhill ‘Essential,’ Gives Homework Before Closing Beds

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The state Department of Public Health says maintaining emergency services, access to inpatient medical/surgical beds and an intensive care unit at Holy Family Hospital are essential to the community. Last Thursday’s ruling means the hospital must file a “transition plan” within 15 days to the Department of Public Health to ensure residents continue to receive at least equivalent care. The “essential service” closure process provides a mechanism for state health officials to review proposed closings or reductions in services and to ensure that measures have been put in place to reduce community impacts and address public concerns. However, the state cannot require a hospital to keep a service open, according to a Department of Public Health spokeswoman. Diana L. Richardson, interim president and CEO for Lawrence General Hospital and the two Holy Family Hospital campuses, said her staff is already in the process of modifying the transition plan.

Health

Kelley to Lead Greater Lawrence Family Health Center; Has Served Organization 20 Years

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Zandra S. Kelley, chief medical officer for the past six years at Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, becomes the organization’s new president and chief executive officer at the start of September. Dr. Kelley succeeds Interim President and CEO Steven Paris, who came out of retirement last year while a search was conducted. Greater Lawrence Family Health Center maintains primary care offices and pharmacies in Lawrence, Methuen and Haverhill. “Dr. Kelley brings to this role a deep and longstanding commitment to the mission and values of GLFHC,” said board Chair Rosa Piña, who is also a patient of the health center. “She is a distinguished alumna of our Family Medicine Residency Program, a cornerstone of our organization that has trained hundreds of primary care physicians dedicated to serving underserved communities.”

Kelley has worked at the health center since 2003, and her previous positions include medical director, vice president of clinical affairs for the former Merrimack Valley Accountable Care Organization, chief of family medicine at Lawrence General Hospital and a faculty member for Lawrence Family Medicine Residency.

Community Spotlight

Greater Lawrence Family Health Center to Host Events for National Health Center Week

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Greater Lawrence Family Health Center is set to host a number of events during next week’s upcoming National Health Center Week. The first is a Community Health Fair Wednesday, Aug. 6, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 150 Park St., Lawrence. The fair will have Health Center staff present to give health-related demonstrations and information. Attendees can receive diabetes screenings and prevention tips as well as health insurance enrollment assistance.