NEWBURGH – Senator James Skoufis (D-Hudson Valley) has received a response to his inquiry to state officials regarding COVID-related nursing home deaths. Two weeks after Skoufis threatened to subpoena State records, NYS Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker provided the documents.
Skoufis raised questions about the death toll in residential care facilities. This comes two weeks after Skoufis, Chairman of the Senate’s investigations committee, threatened a subpoena for the information if not provided by the end of February.
Included in the Department of Health’s response to Skoufis was the full count of nursing home and assisted living residents who died from COVID-19 (15,049), data on nursing home inspections and violations during the pandemic, a detailed breakdown of PPE distribution, information on residential transfers between nursing homes and hospitals, and a review of testing protocols in nursing homes since last March. Furthermore, Skoufis received a commitment from the Department of Health that their July 2020 analysis of transmission in nursing homes would be updated in the coming days in light of the new, substantially higher number of deaths reported.
“While the Department of Health’s response was long overdue, it’s important that it was finally shared,” said Senator Skoufis.“Legislators from both parties, families of nursing home residents, and the public understand the gravity of getting answers and acting upon them. While there will, no doubt, be additional questions, I intend to review the Administration’s response with my colleagues and continue developing a legislative response to this ongoing nursing home crisis.”
In August, Senator Skoufis led over 40 hours of hearings on the state’s response to COVID-19. With the testimony received alongside research conducted by his investigative team, Skoufis introduced a number of bills at the start of the 2021 session pertaining to nursing home reforms.
Republican State Senator Sue Serino weighed in on the documents, saying ”
“This administration has shown a callous disregard for these vulnerable residents and their families for months, but this stunning admission is a tragic new low. News of the audio recording erases any doubt that may have remained of a cover-up by the state. It could not be more clear that a thorough, independent investigation of the state’s handling of the COVID crisis in our nursing homes must be launched immediately.”
Cuomo’s former challenger, Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro has been critical of Cuomo’s handling of nursing homes during the pandemic. In light of today’s discovery by Skoufis he said “For over six months, day after day, in briefing after briefing, Governor Cuomo stood before New Yorkers and lied about his directive that contributed to the deaths of thousands of seniors. In the coming days, he will cynically try to convince us that it was for our own good – that it was someone else’s fault. This is another lie. What is true, is Andrew Cuomo has proved himself unworthy of our trust, and unfit for public office.”
The Skoufis bills included measures to inform prospective nursing home residents of violations at a facility prior to admission, significantly increase infection control inspections, and provide for the revocation of operating licenses when nursing homes put residents at serious risk, and provide for enhanced transparency and accountability surrounding nursing home incident and death data. These bills passed the Senate Health Committee earlier this week.
The Health Commissioner’s response can be viewed here.
