Senators Eye Contempt Charges Against Steward Health CEO

Senators Pursue Contempt Charges Against Steward Health CEO

A bipartisan group of senators has decided to pursue contempt of Congress charges against Ralph de la Torre, the CEO of Steward Health Care, after he defied a subpoena and failed to attend a Senate hearing.

Background

Steward Health Care, a for-profit hospital system, has been under scrutiny for its management practices and financial dealings. The company has been accused of mismanaging its hospitals, leading to financial struggles and a decline in patient care. In May, Steward filed for bankruptcy and has been trying to sell its 30 hospitals across eight states.

Subpoena and Hearing

In July, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee issued a subpoena to compel de la Torre to testify about the failure of Steward Health Care. The committee voted on a strong bipartisan basis to authorize the subpoena, which was the first issued by the panel in decades.

De la Torre refused to comply with the subpoena, citing the ongoing bankruptcy proceedings. However, the committee refused to postpone the hearing, and instead, de la Torre was expected to show.

Hearing Proceedings

Instead of having a chance to grill de la Torre during the hearing, senators heard from nurses at two Steward hospitals in Massachusetts who testified about the impact of corporate ownership on patients, including dangerous levels of understaffing. Two local Louisiana politicians also testified about how Steward mismanaged hospitals in their area.

Contempt Charges

Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.), the chair and ranking member, respectively, of the HELP Committee, said de la Torre needs to answer questions about how Steward managed its hospitals, as well as how he was able to reap millions of dollars even as the system was failing.

"A witness cannot disregard and evade a duly authorized subpoena," Cassidy said at the hearing. "Therefore, today, the chair and I will be asking the committee to report a resolution to authorize civil enforcement and criminal contempt proceedings against Dr. de la Torre requiring compliance with the subpoena."

Consequences

If the contempt charges are approved by the committee, both resolutions will be advanced to the full Senate for a vote. Contempt of Congress is a misdemeanor, and it could lead to fines or imprisonment.

Statement from Senators

"We were hopeful that Dr. de la Torre would comply with our bipartisan subpoena and appear before the committee, to testify to the harm Steward has caused to patients, health care workers, and the communities in which they live. Unfortunately, he failed to appear," Cassidy and Sanders said in a joint statement. "We have no choice but to move forward and pursue both civil enforcement of the subpoena and criminal charges against Dr. de la Torre."

Conclusion

The decision to pursue contempt charges against de la Torre is a significant step in holding him accountable for his actions. The committee will continue its investigation into Steward Health Care and de la Torre’s role in the company’s financial struggles and decline in patient care.

FAQs

Q: Why did the senators decide to pursue contempt charges against de la Torre?
A: De la Torre defied a subpoena and failed to attend a Senate hearing, refusing to answer questions about Steward Health Care’s management practices and financial dealings.

Q: What is the consequence of contempt of Congress charges?
A: Contempt of Congress is a misdemeanor, and it could lead to fines or imprisonment.

Q: Why is Steward Health Care facing financial struggles?
A: Steward Health Care has been accused of mismanaging its hospitals, leading to financial struggles and a decline in patient care.

Q: What is the significance of this investigation?
A: The investigation into Steward Health Care’s financial struggles and decline in patient care is significant because it highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in the healthcare industry.