MEDIA ADVISORY: HELP Committee to Hold Bipartisan Vote to Launch Investigation into Bankruptcy of Steward Health Care and Subpoena CEO

WASHINGTON, July 24 – The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) announced last week that the committee will hold a bipartisan vote tomorrow, on Thursday, July 25, at 10:00 a.m. ET, to authorize an investigation into the bankruptcy of Steward Health Care and subpoena the company’s CEO.

The subpoena would compel Dr. Ralph de la Torre, Steward’s CEO and Chairman, to testify at a hearing on September 12 titled, “Examining the Bankruptcy of Steward Health Care: How Management Decisions Have Impacted Patient Care.”

Under Dr. de la Torre’s leadership, Steward Health Care, which owns 31 hospitals in eight states, filed for bankruptcy on May 6 with more than $9 billion in debt. Steward’s financial problems have led to a lack of adequate staffing and supplies, endangering patients. There are also fears that the potential for closures could leave communities without crucial health care services and burden surrounding hospitals. In addition to its financial problems, Steward is the subject of a federal investigation over alleged fraud and violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. In 2022, Steward also settled False Claims Act violations with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, alleging that Steward defrauded the U.S. government and the American taxpayer for medical services that they did not provide.

Details
What: HELP Committee Executive Session
When: 10:00 a.m. ET, Thursday, July 25, 2024
Where: 562 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Who: HELP Committee Members