Steward Health allegedly under criminal investigation

BOSTON, Mass. (WLNE) — CBS News has reported that Steward Healthcare is under criminal investigation by federal authorities in Boston.

According to CBS, federal prosecutors at the U.S. Attorney’s office in Boston are investigating Steward Health Care based on various allegations including fraud and violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, sources said.

Steward Healthcare currently operates dozens of hospitals nationwide.

Back in May, Steward announced that they had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

In February, Governor Maura Healey called for Steward to leave the state and transition its hospitals to new owners.

The state has been concerned about the company’s finances for some time as it was reported that Steward owed $50 million in rent.

In a statement, Senator Edward Markey said that too many CEOs view the health care system as their “piggy bank.”

“Steward must be investigated, and I hope the company and the corporate executives who facilitated Steward’s actions face consequences that reflect the lives, livelihoods, safety, and security that they stole from communities,” he said.

“To guarantee that what Steward has done doesn’t happen again, we need guardrails that protect communities from the risk of harm that corporate greed inflicts,” he added.

A Public Affairs Representative for Steward Health told ABC 6 they could not confirm or deny an investigation.