Ed Markey

They kept the State of Massachusetts in the dark. They refused to provide the information necessary for the state to be able to make a determination as to the financial condition of Steward.

Can we really have accountability of corporate greed without greater transparency in this one sector, the health care sector, that affects every family in our Country?

Right. So going in, they would want you to think that if anything went wrong, it was because of benign neglect.

Instead of health care experts, you do have wealth care experts.

Thank you. And, thanks to everyone who has joined us today.

It clearly would ultimately wind up harming the nonprofit sector that provides the very same services.

If we close our doors, there is nowhere for people to go, nowhere.

I commend Senator Warren for her proposed 'Stop Wall Street Looting Act,' which would close many of the loopholes used by the private equity players.

If that courage were available--and I think you see it in this room in Senator Markey and Senator Warren--then we know at least where to begin to prevent other Steward-like disasters.

Greed thrives in the dark. And turning on the lights will help.

We have now seen the buyouts, mergers and acquisitions led by private equity firms of over 30 percent of hospitals in the U.S.

Thank you, Senator Markey, for stepping up to champion the state-based Universal Health Care Act, SBUHCA.

Failure is not an option. We have to fix the system.

We need a health care system for everyone, supported by Medicare for all and the Green New Deal.

The pursuit of profit ought to have, at most, a very, very limited role to play in navigating our way to the health and health care system we need and can afford, where the patient truly comes first.

An entirely new level of transparency is called for, much as is kind of plated in Senator Markey's Health Not Wealth draft bill.

Thank you for inviting me to testify at today's important hearing.

Practicing medicine in many PE led places is no longer about patient safety and quality, but about making medical decisions and judgment due to corporate decision-making with profit motives at the expense of patients.

Thank you, Senator Markey and Senator Warren for having me this morning.

Federal and state regulators should think once and think twice, and think three times, before they let another corporate investor suck more money out of the Steward system.

Health care is a sacred trust, a sacred responsibility.

We should forbid the typical private equity approach of loading health care organizations with debt, extracting capital, and leaving stripped down organizations in bankruptcy or worse.

Thank you so much for your--thank you so much for your testimony.

Increased wait times and critical shortage of staff leading to dangerous boarding levels and critically dangerous patient to nurse ratios in the emergency department.

We have now seen the buyouts and M and As led by private equity firms, over 30 percent of hospitals here in the U.S.