Steward bankruptcy Senate hearing to go forward

 

The hearing will go forward next Thursday even if the CEO defies a congressional subpoena to testify, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said Friday.

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee “will hear from patients, medical professionals, and community members whose lives have been impacted” by Ralph de la Torre, Sanders said in a statement.    The committee in July issued a subpoena to compel de la Torre to testify about the failure of Steward Health Care. Steward filed for bankruptcy in May and has been trying to sell all 30 of its hospitals across eight states.     A federal judge earlier this week approved the sale of six of the system’s hospitals in Massachusetts, but two others closed after no buyers were found. The approval marks the end of the saga in Massachusetts, which threatened access to hospital care for patients in the state.    Democrats and other critics said the case of Steward and de la Torre is a prime example about the dangers of private equity involvement in health care.    De la Torre this week told senators he won’t testify until bankruptcy proceedings are resolved, drawing bipartisan ire and calls to hold him in contempt of Congress.    “Dr. de la Torre will be held accountable for his greed and the damage he has caused the American people and our nation’s health care system,” Sanders said. “Is it my hope that Dr. de la Torre will do the right thing, change his mind, and join our hearing to provide testimony? Yes. But let me be clear: With or without him, this hearing is going forward.”    De la Torre also refused invitations to testify at a Boston field hearing earlier this year.  https://thehill.com/newsletters/health-care/4866822-steward-bankruptcy-senate-hearing-to-go-forward/