Comments on: District attorney provides update on HCCA investigation

By: Attorneys for former Tulare hospital leaders accuse DA Ward of biased prosecution - Valley Voice

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 20:00:48 +0000

[…] Ward gave to update the public on aspects of his office’s investigation – one to the Tulare County Board of Supervisors in March of 2018 and another to the Tulare Local Healthcare District board in April of 2018 – have led to a clear […]

By: Judge rejects attempt to toss out charges in Benzeevi case - Valley Voice

Judge rejects attempt to toss out charges in Benzeevi case - Valley Voice — Fri, 19 Nov 2021 09:19:13 +0000

[…] three have denied the charges, which were filed after the largest investigation ever undertaken by the Tulare County District Attorney’s office, according to Tulare County District Attorney Tim […]

By: Valley Voice recognized at California Journalism Awards - Valley Voice

Valley Voice recognized at California Journalism Awards - Valley Voice — Sun, 05 May 2019 07:37:25 +0000

[…] Regional Medical Center (TRMC) and Healthcare Conglomerate Associates (HCCA), including reporting on the Tulare County District Attorney’s investigation into HCCA, a deep dive into Adventist Health’s agreement to lease TRMC, and coverage of HCCA CEO Dr. […]

By: Arambula Blocks Tulare Hospital Funding Without Vote - GV Wire

Arambula Blocks Tulare Hospital Funding Without Vote - GV Wire — Fri, 25 May 2018 00:32:32 +0000

[…] hospital’s current state of ruin (Ward’s office has called the ongoing investigation of TRMC “the largest investigation ever undertaken by the district attorney’s office”). In addition, there was even support from California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones, a […]

By: HCCA CEO served with search warrant at house - Valley Voice

HCCA CEO served with search warrant at house - Valley Voice — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 00:44:56 +0000

[…] Ward, the Tulare County District Attorney, had previously stated that the investigation into HCCA’s management of the Tulare hospital was the “largest […]

By: EH

EH — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 21:34:00 +0000

And further if the DA or audit shows criminal activity, I hope they prosecute to the fullest and if not, I’m sure he will find away to financially go after his accusers. I’m afraid this is a long road ahead, meanwhile no hospital and people out of work, just shameful

By: EH

EH — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 21:19:05 +0000

Hope4good, the hospital closed because the Board filed for bankruptcy and then asked to suspend the license for fear Bennye would shut it down and that would make it more difficult to re-open. With no license you can’t operate and hence the layoff HCCA did with employees. Don’t get me wrong, I’m no Bennye fan but let’s stay accurate to events that occurred. The Board must take full responsibility for that piece. Yes, there was and is significant financial constraints which contributed to a BK filing, but was it done to get out of the Bennye agreement, probably. Was there a vendetta against Bennye? Well it probably started with Kumar and since Bennye aligned himself with Kumar, that may very well be the case.
Regardless, the Board is responsible for the hospital closure, loss of jobs and the hiring of Wipfli and from what I can tell entered into an agreement that is financially just as bad and have done nothing but complain and blame for 5 months. At the very least Bennye closed up the Tower within the same time period so it wasn’t flopping in the wind.This Board spouted transparency and there isn’t any. Just as bad as before if not worse. I look forward to the audit and DA investigation, I don’t think it will prove Bennye as damning as folks would like. Maybe unethical, self serving but not so sure about criminal. After all the Board gave him a contract and too broad authority he’s probably cunning enough to stay within those bounds.

By: Hope4good

Hope4good — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 19:09:36 +0000

In reply to the truth.

Get the story straight, the hospital closed because Benny was laying all of the HCCA employees off with hardly any notice from what I recall. The District had no employees and hadn’t for a few years. Suspending the license had to be done, a move that Benny wasn’t anticipating. He doesn’t want any success for the organization.

By the way Sherrie Bell put Benny in charge with absolutely no experience but you obviously don’t complain about. Was that a “personal vendetta” in picking him over an experienced hospital organization or did she benefit some how.

The board shouldn’t run the hospital, they need to pick someone who can and then get out of the way to let them do it. If they don’t do so then history will repeat itself.

By: JB

JB — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 16:42:02 +0000

“to ensure that any work relating to embezzlement from the cemetery continues unhampered by Tulare.”

What’s this? The cemetery is embezzling money? Or their money is being embezzled? And the DA wants to make sure it continues?

By: perpetualcrisis

perpetualcrisis — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 15:58:39 +0000

Benny prowls these pages still from his hideout. the truth is, board members are just regular citizens with experience in other walks of life. One can only expect they have the common sense to question things that do not sound or feel right. The prior board was bought, they had financial motives of their own. Benny is not especially smart but he is a con man and con men are skilled at manipulating others to do their bidding for them. That is certainly what happened.

Fast forward, the citizens finally realized they were being conned – Benny is not even a skilled con man unlike his brother. Benny, there is no personal vendetta. You were discovered and ousted. Perhaps not fast enough to save the hospital but there are other market forces in play too.

The current board members are not hospital experts, just honest citizens doing their fiduciary duty to the best of their ability. They rely on the advice of the public and the interim officers. It would probably be useful at this time to find their own CEO for a fraction of the cost of a consultant group and explore all options including selling the property. And it is hoped, the legal experts will stuff any further flow of money to Benny and his ilk, if not recover some of his ill gotten gains.