Evans Pushes Back to Save Einstein-Jefferson Merger, Keeps up Fight for ‘No More Hahnemanns!’

WASHINGTON (Feb. 27, 2020) – Congressman Dwight Evans (D-PA-3rd) is pushing back on a federal agency's attempt to block the proposed merger of Jefferson Health and Albert Einstein Healthcare Network.

"This is an outrageous action by the Federal Trade Commission and Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office. The proposed merger would provide enhanced stability and access to high-quality care for the residents of North Philadelphia for the foreseeable future. I urge these agencies to drop this ill-considered action at once!" Evans said.

"I am fighting to secure the resources necessary for essential, safety net hospitals like Einstein to deliver care to those in need. In fact, I have been leading a truly bipartisan effort to strengthen hospital finances to prevent more closings like last year's closure of Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia. I have been working with leaders like the chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, on which I serve; the offices of U.S. Senators Bob Casey and Pat Toomey; and the Pennsylvania secretary of health, among others.

"I have some good news to report: at a House Ways and Means Committee hearing earlier today, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar committed to attending the next meeting I will soon convene as part of this effort for ‘No More Hahnemanns!'

"I want Einstein's patients, staff and neighbors to know their representative in Congress is doing everything possible to prevent this from happening, using every tool in the toolbox.

"I am leading this proactive effort to prevent more hospital closings by reinforcing safety-net hospitals' finances and ability to serve Philadelphia as well as communities like Ellwood City in western Pennsylvania that are also dealing with this issue. I have been holding up Philadelphia as a national example -- this is a national problem that will require a national solution. Hahnemann is the canary in the coal mine, and I am acting like Paul Revere to sound the alarm and bring together everyone who can help, to borrow an analogy from the Ways and Means chairman's home state."

Evans represents Pennsylvania's 3rd Congressional District, which includes Northwest and West Philadelphia and parts of North, South and Center City Philadelphia. He serves on the influential House Ways and Means Committee, which oversees Medicare and much of the U.S. health-care system.

Video of Evans' remarks at today's Ways and Means hearing and his exchange with Secretary Azar (4 minutes total) is available at https://youtu.be/CCuukfMskHU?t=8824

###

To learn more about Congressman Evans' work, please visit his Facebook, Twitter, and congressional website.