Steward Health Care news: Massachusetts network reaches sale deal [Video]

BOSTON — Steward Health Care said it has reached an agreement to sell its nationwide physicians network to a private equity firm.

The deal comes as Steward is scheduled to go before a bankruptcy court judge Friday on its plan to sell six hospitals in Massachusetts. The Dallas-based company announced its bankruptcy May 6.

In a statement released Monday, Steward said it has entered into a “definitive agreement” to sell its Stewardship Health business — which includes about 5,000 physicians in Massachusetts and nine other states treating about 400,000 patients — to Rural Healthcare Group, an affiliate of Kinderhook Industries LLC, a private equity firm.

Steward said the deal, which is subject to regulators’ review, will result in strong patient and physician outcomes. “Stewardship Health will continue to serve its loyal …