NY Attorney General Letitia James has released a report on her office’s ongoing investigations into nursing homes’ responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since March, James has been investigating nursing homes throughout New York state based on allegations of patient neglect and other concerning conduct that may have jeopardized the health and safety of residents and employees. Among those findings were that a larger number of nursing home residents died from COVID-19 than the New York State Department of Health’s (DOH) published nursing home data reflected and may have been undercounted by as much as 50 percent. Based on these findings and subsequent investigation, Attorney General James is conducting ongoing investigations into more than 20 nursing homes whose reported conduct during the first wave of the pandemic presented particular concern.
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STATEMENT BY SENATOR GEORGE BORRELLO ON THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S REPORT ON COVID NURSING HOME DEATHS
“The calls for truth and transparency from grieving families were finally answered today with the release of the Attorney General’s report on the undercounting of deaths of nursing home residents from COVID-19. After months of stonewalling, blame-casting and diversion by the Governor and Health Commissioner, we have confirmation that COVID deaths in nursing homes were undercounted by as much as 50 percent.
“While this news cannot undo the damage and precious lives that were lost through reckless decisions, including the deadly March 25, 2020 order to send COVID-positive patients into nursing homes, these revelations will help ensure better oversight and vigilance going forward.
“While I echo the call of Leader Ortt and my colleagues for the resignation of the Health Commissioner, this in no way absolves the Governor of any wrongdoing. Nothing in the Cuomo administration happens without his knowledge and consent. We, as a legislative body, need to hold him accountable for this horrific tragedy and the bad decisions that led up to it."
