Boston Globe, October 1, 2026
By Kay Lazar and Neena Hagen
Summary:
Following a Boston Globe investigation revealing that out-of-state operators with spotty or poor records have acquired nearly one in five Massachusetts nursing homes, state lawmakers have fiercely demanded answers from the Healey administration. Legislators expressed outrage that the Department of Public Health (DPH) has not denied a single nursing home purchase in at least seven years, allowing operators like RegalCare’s Eli Mirlis—whose facilities plummeted from five-star to one-star ratings while funds were siphoned into real-estate and management companies—to continuously expand despite clear deterioration in resident care.
In response to mounting bipartisan criticism and demands for accountability, Governor Maura Healey defended DPH Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein, praising his leadership while acknowledging the deep importance of elder care and resident safety. Simultaneously, under intense public pressure following the report, the Healey administration abruptly announced it would finally implement a 2024 law that expands state vetting authorities. The Public Health Council is scheduled to vote on the long-delayed regulations to allow the DPH to thoroughly investigate out-of-state records, finances, and operational history.
Lawmakers, advocates, and political figures alike criticized the administration’s prolonged inaction and lack of urgency in enforcing protective oversight. Critics—including co-sponsors of the legislation, AARP Massachusetts, and gubernatorial challenger Mike Minogue—emphasized that predatory operators are fleecing public resources at the expense of vulnerable seniors, asserting that stringent enforcement, rigorous financial scrutiny, and absolute accountability are urgently needed across the state’s nursing home system.