Thu Sep 12 23:16:00 UTC 2024: ## Steward Health Care CEO Defies Congress, Facing Contempt Charges

**Washington, D.C.** – Steward Health Care CEO Ralph de la Torre has sparked outrage in Congress after refusing to testify about his company’s bankruptcy at a Senate hearing on Thursday. This defiance comes despite a subpoena and intensifies scrutiny of his management of the company, which operated over 30 hospitals across the nation.

De la Torre’s absence triggered calls for criminal and civil enforcement measures, with the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee expected to vote on resolutions next week. If approved, the measures will proceed to the full Senate for a vote.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vt) labelled de la Torre “the poster child for corporate greed” and highlighted the CEO’s lavish lifestyle, including a $15 million custom fishing boat, while hospitals under his management faced severe understaffing and mounting debt.

Former employees corroborated these claims, highlighting the devastating impact of Steward’s management on patient care. Ellen MacInnis, a registered nurse at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Boston, testified about preventable harm and even death due to chronic understaffing.

The recent closure of two Steward-owned hospitals in Massachusetts further exacerbated the situation. Audra Sprague, a former nurse at Nashoba Valley Medical Center, testified that the abrupt closure, with minimal notice, has strained local resources and severely impacted ambulance response times.

Lawmakers see Steward’s collapse as a glaring example of the dangers of unchecked private equity ownership in healthcare. Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) labelled Steward “a personal piggy bank” for private equity firms and stressed the need for stricter regulations and transparency. He is now leading legislation aimed at preventing similar situations in the future.

In a statement, a spokesperson for de la Torre maintained that he cannot testify while bankruptcy proceedings are ongoing, citing ongoing settlement efforts to keep Steward’s remaining hospitals open and preserve jobs. However, this explanation has been met with skepticism, as the CEO’s actions have fueled public anger and calls for accountability.

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