A D.C. Council committee voted March 13 to subpoena four witnesses, along with materials connected to the consulting firm that operated Washington, D.C.-based United Medical Center for almost two years, according to The Washington Post.
Here are six things to know about the situation.
1. The five-member D.C. Council Committee on Health voted March 13 to subpoena four top officials at Veritas, UMC's former operator, as well as recordings of hospital board meetings during the past three years. Four council members voted in favor of issuing the subpoenas, while one council voted against them.
2. The committee previously asked the four officials to voluntarily appear at a public hearing. However, two officials sent letters declining to appear, while the two other officials did not respond, according to committee staff who spoke with The Washington Post.
3. Veritas was awarded the no-bid contract to operate the hospital in spring 2016. The Washington Post reports top executives within Veritas and some of their relatives donated a substantial contribution to Mayor Muriel E. Bowser's election campaign in 2014, as well as donated funds to one D.C. Council member's campaigns between 2014 and 2016.
4. However, the full council voted last November to sever Veritas' operating agreement, citing concerns about patient safety and allegations of mismanagement. The Washington Post also previously reported Veritas failed to meet many of the city's standards for managing the hospital, and delivered only one-tenth of the $9 million in extra revenue the company promised to generate, according to the report.
5. Veritas officials have defended their management of UMC, citing the hospital's ongoing financial struggles prior to when Veritas' contract took effect, the report states.
6. NFPHC Director of Public Relations and Communications Michael Austin told Becker's Hospital Review via email March 15, "UMC intends to fully comply with the Council's decision."
To access The Washington Post article, click here.
Editor's note: This article was updated at 1 p.m. March 15 to include a statement from United Medical Center.