House Subcommittee Demands Accountability for COVID-19 Nursing Home Deaths

Rep. Brad Wenstrup, chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, is pushing for accountability from former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and three other governors regarding their decision to mandate nursing homes and long-term care facilities to admit contagious and untested COVID-19 patients. This policy led to the deaths of over 15,000 New York nursing home residents during Cuomo's tenure. The subcommittee is committed to uncovering the truth behind these policies and investigating the failed leadership of state officials.

Key Takeaways:

• The House Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic is demanding accountability from former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro regarding their decision to mandate nursing homes and long-term care facilities to admit contagious and untested COVID-19 patients.
• Chairman Brad Wenstrup is requesting that former Governor Cuomo appear for a transcribed interview to testify about the circumstances and policies that led to the death of over 15,000 New York nursing home residents during his tenure.
• The subcommittee has sent five letters to former Governor Cuomo, his successors, and their predecessors, but has yet to receive a response.
• Elderly Americans faced the highest risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19, and the governors' policies disregarded CDC and CMS guidance.
• The subcommittee aims to ensure accountability and transparency, inform future public health decisions, and provide closure to the thousands of families that lost loved ones due to COVID-19 in nursing homes and long-term care facilities.

Statistics:

• Over 15,000 New York nursing home residents died during former Governor Cuomo's tenure due to the policy of admitting contagious and untested COVID-19 patients.
• The subcommittee has sent five letters to the governors and their predecessors in the capacity of governor, but has only received responses from New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and Governor Shapiro, which committed to providing information related to pandemic-era nursing home policy decisions.
• The House Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic held a hearing earlier this week to examine the consequences of the governors' policies and investigate the failed leadership of state officials.

Sources:

• "Wenstrup Demands Accountability for COVID-19 Nursing Home Deaths; Requests Transcribed Interview with Former Governor Andrew Cuomo" - The House Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic (https://oversight.house.gov/release/wenstrup-demands-accountability-for-covid-19-nursing-home-deaths-requests-transcribed-interview-with-former-governor-andrew-cuomo/)
• Letter to former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (https://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2023.05.19-BRW-Letter-to-Gov.-Cuomo-Re.-Nursing-Homes.pdf)
• Letter to New York Governor Kathy Hochul (https://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2023.05.19-BRW-Letter-to-Gov.-Hochul-Re.-Nursing-Homes.pdf)
• Letter to New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy (https://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2023.05.19-BRW-Letter-to-Gov-Murphy-Re.-Nursing-Homes.pdf)
• Letter to Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (https://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2023.05.19-BRW-Letter-to-Gov.-Shapiro-Re.-Nursing-Homes_.pdf)