DOJ Seeks Coronavirus Data On Michigan Nursing Home Deaths

MICHIGAN — The U.S. Justice Department on Wednesday requested coronavirus data from Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer as well as the governors of three other states that issued orders which may have resulted in the deaths of thousands of elderly nursing home residents.

Michigan, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania required nursing homes to admit COVID-19 patients to their vulnerable populations, often without adequate testing, the DOJ said in a news release.

“Protecting the rights of some of society’s most vulnerable members, including elderly nursing home residents, is one of our country’s most important obligations,” said Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Division Eric Dreiband. “We must ensure they are adequately cared for with dignity and respect and not unnecessarily put at risk.”

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Whitmer responded to the DOJ's request Wednesday, saying it was a partisan move made by President Donald Trump's Department of Justice.

"Protecting the health, safety, and wellbeing of our seniors and most vulnerable residents has been a top priority throughout this crisis," Whitmer said. "The fact that this letter was sent during the middle of the Republican National Convention week to four Democratic governors should make it crystal clear that this is nothing more than election year politics by an administration that is more concerned with the president's re-election campaign than protecting Michigan seniors.

"We will review this letter and respond as appropriate, however, Americans would all be better served if the Trump administration stopped the partisan games and focused on delivering a real plan to defeat COVID-19."

The department's civil rights division is evaluating whether to initiate investigations under the federal Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, which protects the civil rights of persons in state-run nursing homes, among others. The DOJ is seeking to determine if the state orders requiring admission of COVID-19 patients to nursing homes is responsible for the deaths of nursing home residents.

On March 3, the Attorney General announced the Justice Department’s National Nursing Home Initiative, a comprehensive effort by the department, that uses every available tool to pursue nursing homes that provide substandard care to their residents.

The DOJ is requesting from the governors the number of nursing home residents, employees and other staff who contracted the virus. It is also requesting the the number of people affiliated with nursing homes who have died. It also requests the number of people who were admitted to a public nursing home from a hospital or any other facility after testing positive for COVID-19.

Whitmer and the other governors are requested to provide the information within 14 days.

Read More: Michigan Adds 761 Coronavirus Cases Wednesday, Total Tops 99K