28 April 2022: NY Senate Committee Proposes Independent Commission to Probe COVID Nursing Home Deaths

Proposed bill would independently investigate 15,000 COVID-19 nursing home deaths

This report covers developments in the New York's state senate's health committee to create an independent commission to investigate the COVID nursing home deaths that occurred during the period Andrew M. Cuomo's deadly 25 March 2020 directive was in effect. What's most interesting is that the bill is the result of a bipartisan political effort. Here's an excerpt:

The proposed bill comes over two years after the Cuomo administration placed COVID-positive patients into nursing homes — a decision that was not reversed until weeks later.

The investigation, which was gained the support of both Republicans and Democrats, would investigate the fact that the state undercounted the number of nursing home deaths. It would also look into an audit from the State’s Comptroller’s office that claimed the New York State Department of Public Health was unprepared to respond to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

“These are real people, real families who lost their lives during this tragedy,” Republican Assemblymember Philip Palmesano said. “I think it’s definitely necessary given the fact that we lost 15,000 seniors during the COVID crisis. I believe families deserve answers, accountability and transparency.”

There's quite a lot that would need to happen before the proposed commission might be established. The next step for the proposed bill will be consideration by the NY Senate Finance Committee. If approved, it will proceed to be voted upon by the full NY State Senate. After that, it would need to be voted upon and approved by the NY State Assembly before it might be sent to replacement Governor Kathy Hochul to be signed into law.