Senator Tedisco Demands Release of Overdue Pandemic Review on NY Nursing Home Deaths

Senator Jim Tedisco is urging Governor Kathy Hochul to release a $4.3 million overdue independent review of New York's pandemic policy and the role it played in the deaths of 15,000 people in state-regulated nursing homes, according to a press release.

This call comes as the fourth anniversary of the controversial March 25 executive order, which mandated placing COVID-positive patients in nursing homes, approaches. Tedisco criticizes the delay and demands transparency for the families of the deceased, highlighting the need for accountability and lessons to prepare for future health crises. He has also advocated for bipartisan legislation to investigate the nursing home deaths with subpoena power independently.

On May 24, 2022, Governor Houchul announced that she ordered an independent review of the state’s policies during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, stating, “History deserves to have a true record of what happened here, and I want an outside look at it…I have to be able to leave future governors what was learned, not just in the health care space and the response dealing with nursing homes, but also decisions that affected our economy, decisions that affected families.”

The Houchul Administration hired an outside firm to perform a year-long study starting on November 2, 2022. However, as of March 2024, the report is still missing.

“This Governor’s so-called ‘independent report’ on the pandemic response and nursing home deaths was due over four months ago but we’ve had total radio silence from the Hochul Administration on its status. Where is this report and why hasn’t it been released?” said Senator Jim Tedisco. Tedisco stressed the importance of providing justice and a complete understanding of the situation to the families affected by the executive order. He has urged Governor Hochul to release the pandemic report before the fourth anniversary of the order and to address the families' queries.

Reference

Advance of 4th anniversary of March 25th Pandemic Executive Order, Tedisco calls for justice for nursing home victims. News release. NYS Senate. Published March 18, 2024. Accessed April 15, 2024. https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2024/james-tedisco/advance-4th-anniversary-march-25th-pandemic-executive