Hearings On New York's Nursing Home COVID-19 Deaths

As New York officials continue to be criticized for nursing home deaths in the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the State Senate's investigations committee will hold hearings on the topic. About one-fifth of deaths from COVID-19 in the state have been in nursing homes.

"We owe it to the people of this state to get answers and diligently examine what transpired, both as a means to hold bad-actors accountable as well as learn what worked and what didn't work in preparation for the next public health crisis," said Senator James Skoufis, chairman of the Investigations and Government Operations Committee. "Working with my colleagues and my investigations team, we will begin the enormous task of unspooling the state’s actions from day one."

Another state senator in the Hudson Valley, Sue Serino, has been calling for hearings since early May.

"From failing to prioritize PPE or additional staff for these facilities, to the March 25th directive that sent COVID-positive patients directly into vulnerable nursing homes, the state has failed to support these residents, or their facilities, repeatedly throughout the pandemic," Serino said in a statement July 3.

The issues that the hearings are focusing on hit close to home for both. In the Hudson Valley, confirmed COVID-19 deaths in nursing home as of July 12:

• Dutchess County: 47
• Orange: 111
• Putnam: 18
• Rockland: 36
• Ulster: 39
• Westchester: 260

Among the hardest hit have been Wingate in Dutchess, Valley View Center for Nursing Care in Orange, Ten Broeck Center in Ulster and the New Jewish Home, Sarah Neuman in Westchester.

The Empire Center for Public Policy speculated June 30 that the state's policy of counting only patients who die within their facilities means the actual death toll among residents could be much higher than officially reported.

The New York Times reported (and updated its report July 7) that two out of every five COVID-19 deaths in the United States are linked to long-term care facilities.

The state health department issued a report July 6 concluding that fatalities in nursing homes were related most to infected nursing home staff.

The state senate hearings will include testimony from the Governor's Office, nursing home management, hospital stakeholders, frontline workers, and patient family members.

The hearings, all of which will be conducted remotely via Zoom, are scheduled for the following dates:

• Aug. 3: Upstate Nursing Homes
• Aug. 10: Downstate Nursing Homes

Testimony will be by invitation only, however, members of the public are welcome to submit written testimony or tips to Senator Skoufis’ investigative team at investigations@nysenate.gov.

Find the data for individual nursing homes and adult care facilities in New York here.