The US Senate Health Committee has voted 16-4 to subpoena the CEO of Steward Health, Dr. Richard de la Torra. Committee Co-Chair Senator Bill Cassidy said they are investigating what led to Steward’s bankruptcy which is severely impacting care at hospitals across the country including West Monroe’s Glenwood Regional Medical Center.
“We must learn about these financial deals because it spelled the beginning of the end for Steward and it’s more than 30 hospitals across the country including in my home state of Louisiana in West Monroe,” said Cassidy.
Glenwood is one of 31 Steward hospitals across the country.
Due to limited resources at Glenwood, the state forced the facility to operate at one-third of its capacity, which has put a strain on hospitals across the river in Monroe. Cassidy said Steward’s financial mismanagement has had deadly consequences.
“One patient died waiting for a transfer to another hospital because Glenwood did not have the resources to treat,” said Cassidy.
What happened at Glenwood is not unique. Cassidy said at a Steward-owned hospital in Massachusetts, a woman died after giving birth…
“When doctors realized mid-surgery that the supplies needed to treat her had been repossessed due to Steward’s financial troubles and these examples are across Steward’s hospitals,” said Cassidy.
In June the committee asked de la Torre to testify, but he refused, didn’t offer another date, or have another Steward Health representative appear. Cassidy said this has forced the committee to subpoena him.
A hearing is set for July 31st for Steward’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings and American Healthcare Systems’ bid to be the new owner of Glenwood.
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