Massachusetts federal delegation calls on Tenet Healthcare to expedite COBRA benefits to striking nurses at Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester

by Michael Bonner

Nearly ever member of Massachusetts’ federal congressional delegation signed a letter on Wednesday urging Tenet Healthcare to expedite the COBRA benefits that are entitled to nearly 800 striking nurses at Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester.

It represented the second letter in as many days from members of Congress to Tenet regarding the nurses strike. Also on Wednesday, a letter signed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Ed Markey, U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern and U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan urged Tenet Healthcare Executive Chairman and CEO Ronald Rittenmeyer to work with the nurses to come to an agreement.

The letter expressing concern regarding COBRA benefits included even more signatures with Warren, Markey, McGovern and Trahan as well as U.S. Reps. Jake Auchincloss, Katherine Clark, William Keating, Stephen Lynch, Seth Moulton and Ayanna Pressley.

Richard Neal, representing the first district, was the only Massachusetts congressperson whose signature was absent from the letter.

The letter outlined how the American Rescue Plan entitles the nurses to COBRA benefits while striking.

“The ARP is intended to meet the magnitude of the challenges American families are facing due to the pandemic. The ARP is not intended to dither and delay in providing this critical assistance – especially when giving frontline workers the health insurance they deserve,” the lawmakers wrote.

Wednesday also represented the third round of negotiations in the last 10 days between Tenet and the nurses. While the Massachusetts Nurses Association said some steps forward were made, “significant differences” remain.

The nurses strike has now eclipsed 60 days from when it began on March 8.