Washington (July 26, 2024) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) chair of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee on Primary Health, and Retirement Security, released the following statement on Steward Health Care’s announcement of the closure of Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer and Carney Hospital in Dorchester. Just yesterday, Senator Markey voted to subpoena Steward Health Care CEO Dr. Ralph de la Torre to appear before the HELP Committee on September 12 and answer for the business practices of Steward Health and its mismanagement of hospitals around the country. This was the first time the Senate HELP Committee had issued a subpoena since 1981.  

“The callousness demonstrated for the health and well-being of the people of Massachusetts is nothing short of astonishing. Steward Health Care – led by Dr. de la Torre and facilitated by private equity and real estate investment trusts – intentionally purchased safety net hospitals that communities rely on, and they ran them into the ground in their efforts to extract maximum profits. But Dr. de la Torre and his private equity cronies will not get away with this. 

“There is still a process that Steward Health Care must follow that has been set out by the bankruptcy court and the law. So far, Steward has flouted transparency requirements and their obligations to serve their patients – but the eyes of the Commonwealth, the country, and the United States Senate are upon them. Steward must do everything in its power to keep the five hospitals that received bids open and ensure everyone who relies on Steward for their health care can maintain their access to care. 

“To the health care workers impacted by Steward’s decisions: I am grateful for your continued work to serve your patients. You are doing God’s work. To the communities who rely on these hospitals: these hospitals are still open, and I will keep working to make sure your access to care is protected.”

Yesterday, Senator Markey and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) introduced the Health Over Wealth Act, legislation that would put safeguards in place to protect workers, patients, and health care quality, access, and safety; create stronger accountability measures for corporate greed; and close tax loopholes that benefit real estate investment trusts making money off of health care property. 

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