Sep 19, 2024
Presented by Plan B One Step — A Senate committee investigating the bankruptcy of hospital chain Steward Health Care voted on Thursday to hold the company’s CEO in contempt of Congress{beacon} Health Care Health Care   The Big Story Senate panel advances contempt measures against Steward CEO A committee investigating the bankruptcy of hospital chain Steward Health Care has voted to hold the company’s CEO in contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena and refusing to appear at a hearing.   © AP The Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee overwhelmingly adopted two contempt resolutions: One for civil enforcement and another that would refer the matter to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia to criminally prosecute Ralph de la Torre for failing to comply with the subpoena.  Both resolutions passed 20-0 and will now advance to the full Senate for a vote.    The bipartisan vote underscores how frustrated lawmakers have become with Ralph de la Torre, who they said has been uncooperative at every possible turn.   “For months, this committee has invited Dr. de la Torre to testify about the financial mismanagement and what occurred at Steward Health Care,” committee chairman Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said at Thursday’s hearing. “Time after time, he has arrogantly refused to appear.”   The HELP committee in July issued a subpoena to compel de la Torre to testify at a hearing held last week.  De la Torre told the committee he wouldn’t participate in the hearing while Steward was still in the middle of bankruptcy proceedings and asked for the hearing to be postponed.    But the committee rejected his request and told de la Torre to appear. When he did not, they initiated contempt proceedings.     Steward filed for bankruptcy in May and has been trying to sell all 30 of its hospitals across eight states.    While its hospitals were struggling, to the point where bills weren’t being paid and medical instruments were being repossessed, the owners paid themselves millions in dividends.   According to Sanders, de la Torre personally reaped hundreds of millions of dollars. He bought a mansion in an exclusive Dallas neighborhood, as well as a $40 million yacht and a $15 million luxury fishing boat, according to the senator.  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.  Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here.   Essential Reads How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond:   Study supports COVID-19 origin theory linked to Wuhan animal marketA new peer-reviewed paper presents evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic started in a seafood market in Wuhan, China, where many of the first cases of the disease were identified.   The paper, published Thursday in the scientific journal Cell, builds off preliminary research released last year that pointed to a raccoon dog as a possible host transmitter of the disease to humans.   One origin theory of the COVID-19 pandemic …  Full Story  Hawley optimistic at radiation compensation deal prospectsSen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) expressed optimism Thursday that lawmakers would soon reach a deal to extend radiation compensation for victims of U.S. nuclear weapons testing.  Hawley told reporters he and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) were “getting close” to a deal. “We’ve made very significant progress, and I’m encouraged by the direction it’s heading in,” Hawley said. “I think the sticking points are relatively few.” However, …  Full Story  Florida warns physicians abortions must be given ‘at any stage’ to save life and health Florida health officials told physicians Thursday that abortion is permitted “at any stage in pregnancy” to save the life and health of the mother, and regulatory action will be taken against any providers who don’t offer that care.   In a notice to providers, the Florida Department of Health and the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) said Florida “requires life-saving medical care to a mother without delay …  Full Story   Around the Nation Local and state headlines on health care: Even as state mental health spending rises, private psychiatric hospitals struggle to stay open (The Texas Tribune)  North Carolina’s poultry industry surges, but at what cost to health and environment? (North Carolina Health News)  New York City has been conducting fewer restaurant and rat inspections, report finds (Gothamist)  What We're Reading Health news we've flagged from other outlets: Emails suggest Cuomo undersold his role in altering COVID report (The New York Times)  Ukraine keeps up the fight against HIV while fighting a war (NPR)  Why Big Tobacco is betting on Trump (The Washington Post)  What Others are Reading  Most read stories on The Hill right now: Robinson says he’s staying in NC governor’s race after bombshell CNN report North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (R) on Thursday said he’s staying in the gubernatorial race following speculation throughout the day that he … Read more Local Teamsters unions in key battleground states endorse Harris Local unions within the International Brotherhood of Teamsters are putting their support behind Vice President Harris in November, despite the wider … Read more What People Think Opinion related to health submitted to The Hill: England’s strained health care system should ring alarms in the US  Close Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here The latest in politics and policy. Direct to your inbox. Sign up for the Health Care newsletter Subscribe
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