Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is set to testify before Congress for the first time about his nursing home’s controversial handling of COVID-19, which has killed thousands of vulnerable elderly people.
The Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic has requested Cuomo’s testimony at a hearing scheduled for Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. in the Rayburn House Office Building.
BREAKING
Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo will testify publicly before Congress for the first time on the COVID-19 nursing home policy @COVIDSelect hearing on September 10, 2024. pic.twitter.com/oRVMvBgukN
– Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic (@COVIDSelect) September 3, 2024
Earlier this year, Mr. Cuomo appeared before the Select Subcommittee for a transcribed interview, which was transcribed behind closed doors, for seven hours. Among those interviewed were former Secretary to the Governor, Melissa DeRosa, and former New York Department of Health Commissioner, Dr. Howard Zucker (who is stepping down in 2021.)
Select Subcommittee Chairman Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) issued a strong statement today.
“Andrew Cuomo owes it to the 15,000 families who lost loved ones in New York nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Wenstrup said. “On September 10, the American people will have the opportunity to hear directly from the former governor about New York’s potentially fatal nursing home policies.”
“During closed testimony, Mr. Cuomo was shocked when pressed to explain the discrepancy in the number of deaths in nursing homes, repeatedly abdicated responsibility for nursing home directives, and most egregiously, expressed grief for the thousands of lives lost.”
“True leaders make mistakes and take responsibility for wrongdoing. That’s not what Mr. Cuomo saw during his tenure as governor or during the transcribed interview. I hope that during next week’s public hearing, Mr. Cuomo will stop avoiding accountability and answer honestly.” to the American people.
Cuomo’s actions during the pandemic, particularly the administration’s directive forcing COVID-19 patients back into nursing homes, have been widely condemned as one of the most egregious failures in pandemic management.
A 2020 study showed 45% of all US coronavirus deaths occurred in nursing homes. Only 0.6% of the US population lives in nursing homes, but more than 45% of coronavirus deaths occur in these centers.
The infamous directive, issued by the New York Department of Health, mandates that nursing homes accept COVID-19 patients from hospitals, effectively turning these facilities into breeding grounds for the virus.
During the peak of the pandemic in March 2020, his government issued a directive ordering nursing homes to accept COVID-19 patients without requiring testing. This reckless policy not only puts residents at risk, but also makes New York the national epicenter for COVID-19-related nursing home deaths.
The New York Department of Health orders include, per Yaacov Apelbaum of Illustrated Primer:
- Acknowledged quickly: All nursing homes must comply with the return of residents from the hospital without tests.
- No rejection based on diagnosis: Citizens cannot be denied entry based on a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 diagnosis.
The reasoning behind Cuomo’s killing directive shows a web of corruption and cronyism. In 2018, when Governor Andrew Cuomo faced a challenge for re-election in the New York State Democratic primary, he received a last-minute cash infusion of $1m from the General New York Hospital Association (GNYHA) – a powerful NY healthcare industry group.
On April 2, 2020, he returned the favor when he quietly signed legislation protecting hospital and nursing home executives from lawsuits stemming from the coronavirus outbreak.
The clause, which was included in the annual budget bill by Cuomo, gives blanket immunity protection to health industry executives and administrators, the same individuals and institutions that make a fortune moving sick Covid-19 patients to nursing homes.
GNYHA’s influence over Cuomo was evident, as the organization channeled millions of dollars into Democratic campaigns, with Cuomo and his state party committee receiving nearly $2.3 million.
In response, Cuomo’s directive forcing COVID-19 patients to return to nursing homes led to bankruptcy for health organizations affiliated with GNYHA, which profited greatly from the spread of COVID-19 patients. It’s a bonanza for this entity, but a death sentence for thousands of New Yorkers.
The nursing home edict dated March 25, 2020 issued by the New York state (NYS) Department of Health (DOH) is not the only NYS order in place, ordering that patients infected with COVID-19 be sent to congregate care facilities from hospitals .
NYS also sends patients infected with COVID-19 to adult care facilities (ACF) and to group homes managed by the NYS Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD).
ACF serves seniors who have medical needs, but do not require nursing home care. NYS OPWDD serves individuals with disabilities before the age of 22.
Examples of covered disabilities include, but are not limited to: autism, mental retardation, brain injury, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy. Some of these individuals (who can be of any age, including the elderly, as long as they suffered a disability before the age of 22) are among the most vulnerable people in New York.
Despite mounting evidence of wrongdoing, Cuomo continues to evade responsibility.
An investigation into his actions related to a nursing home death was quietly dropped by DOJ Biden, sparking outrage among the victims’ families and the general public.
In August 2020, the Justice Department requested data from four Democratic governors regarding orders to send sick COVID-19 patients to nursing homes.
As TGP has reported several times, – Five Democratic governors sent COVID-19 patients to nursing homes.
