Senators Eldridge, Cronin and Kennedy Secure $5 million in First Responder Funding Amid Nashoba Valley Hospital Closure in Supplemental Budget
North Central Mass Fire Chiefs had requested funding to fill EMS systems gaps
AYER — During the Senate’s debate on the FY25 supplemental budget, Senator Jamie Eldridge (D-Marlborough), alongside Senators Edward Kennedy (D-Lowell) and John J. Cronin (D-Fitchburg), secured support for emergency medical services (EMS) funding to assist communities impacted by the sudden closure of Nashoba Valley Medical Center (NVMC).
NVMC, a Steward Health Care facility, ceased operations on August 31, 2024, following Steward’s bankruptcy and its inability to secure a qualified buyer. With just 30 days' notice and no transition plan, the closure placed immense strain on local emergency response systems that had relied on the hospital to serve over 150,000 residents in the Nashoba Valley region.
Since then, fire departments and EMS providers have experienced a dramatic increase in operational costs and response times. In a December 2024 letter to Governor Maura Healey, thirteen Nashoba Valley fire chiefs, in coordination with their town administrators and legislative delegation, warned that EMS in the region was “on the verge of collapse.” The chiefs detailed the strain caused by increased travel distances to hospitals in Leominster, Concord, Lowell, and even Nashua, NH.
In just one of the impacted communities, Ayer, local data reflect the magnitude of the impact:
Station coverage calls have more than doubled, from 66 before the closure to 182 after.
Overtime hours exceeded 600 in just nine months, costing over $31,000.
Additional costs for fuel, maintenance, and supplies are estimated at $20,000+, and some departments are being forced to purchase new ambulances ahead of schedule, at a cost of up to $500,000 each.
“These aren’t theoretical impacts, we’re seeing them now, and they’re straining already tight municipal budgets,” said Senator Eldridge. “I’m so grateful to Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues for including this critical funding, and to the fire chiefs and town leaders who have sounded the alarm for months. This funding is a vital step in helping our communities maintain high-quality emergency care while we work toward longer-term solutions for restoring hospital services in the region.”
"This funding will help alleviate the immense strain put on the municipal budgets of first responders in Pepperell and the surrounding communities in the region in the wake of Nashoba Valley Medical Center's closure,” said Senator Kennedy. “I will continue to work with the members of the Nashoba Valley State House Delegation to help return critical medical services to the region."
“These investments made by the Legislature are critical to bridge the gaps in emergency transportation created by the closure of Nashoba Valley Medical Center,” said Senator Cronin. “These funds ensure that emergency services can continue to support residents until a Satellite Emergency Facility opens in Groton. I’m thankful to the entire Nashoba legislative delegation for their collaboration and to our local fire departments and EMS for their continued commitment to the people they serve.”
Senator Eldridge’s office continues to work with local officials, state leaders, and regional stakeholders to address the healthcare access crisis created by NVMC’s closure.
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