The Big Story

The CEO of Steward Health Care told a Senate panel he won’t testify at a hearing next week as part of an investigation into the company’s bankruptcy, in defiance of a subpoena.

© The Hill, Greg Nash

Ralph de la Torre told senators it would be inappropriate for him to testify on matters related to Steward’s bankruptcy while those proceedings are ongoing. They asked for a postponement until the proceedings are resolved.

“Members of this Committee continue to cast aspersions on Dr. de la Torre and appear determined to turn the hearing into a pseudo-criminal proceeding in which they use the time, not to gather facts, but to convict Dr. de la Torre in the eyes of public opinion,” the letter stated.

Massachusetts Sens. Ed Markey (D) and Elizabeth Warren (D) on Thursday called for de la Torre to be held in contempt .

“You should be held in contempt if you fail to appear. You should be fired from your position as CEO. You should lose your medical degree. And the millions you made off of Steward should go to repairing the health system you broke,” Markey said.

In July, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee voted to launch a bipartisan investigation into Steward and subpoena de la Torre, alleging that the company’s executives had mismanaged the system’s finances and put patient care at risk.

Steward filed for bankruptcy in May and has been trying to sell all 30 of its hospitals across eight states.

De la Torre for years has faced accusations that he has personally profited while Steward’s hospitals across the country have been failing financially, but he has so far avoided any public response. He declined an earlier opportunity to testify, lawmakers said, and offered no counter date or alternate company official.

Committee chairman Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said in a statement he was “disappointed, but not surprised” that de la Torre was refusing to comply. Sanders said he’s working with committee members to “determine the best path forward.”

Ranking Member Bill Cassidy (R-La.) also called for de la Torre to answer the subpoena.

“Defying a congressional subpoena to avoid testifying is consistent with a disregard for norms. With a disregard for doing the right thing. Communities depended upon these hospitals, and there are allegations that assets were drained to profit Dr. de la Torre. It is important that he address this,” Cassidy said.

Welcome to The Hill’s Health Care newsletter , we’re Nathaniel Weixel, Joseph Choi and Alejandra O’Connell-Domenech — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health.

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