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Congressional Panel Probes Cuomo’s Handling of COVID-19 in Nursing Homes
Edited by: TJVNews.com
The COVID-19 pandemic has left an indelible mark on global societies, particularly affecting the most vulnerable populations. In the United States, New York’s handling of the pandemic, especially in nursing homes, has been a focal point of scrutiny, as was reported by The New York Post. Recently, a congressional panel investigating the pandemic met with relatives of New York nursing home residents who died during the shutdown. This meeting was a precursor to the panel’s anticipated grilling of former Governor Andrew Cuomo regarding his administration’s pandemic response, the Post report said.
At the heart of the investigation is a comprehensive 121-page timeline provided by Peter Arbeeny, whose father, Norman, succumbed to COVID-19 after being released from a Brooklyn nursing home. As per the information provided in The Post report, Arbeeny’s document, available on wecarewall.com, presents a scathing critique of Cuomo and his administration, alleging that their decisions and subsequent cover-ups significantly contributed to the high number of COVID-related deaths in nursing homes.
“Keeping track of Governor Cuomo’s multitude of lies, manipulations, and misdeeds can be overwhelming,” Arbeeny states in his document. Indicated in The Post report was that the preface highlights what Arbeeny describes as the “now infamous $5.2 million book deal,” which he claims was a “black cloud hovering over the New York Nursing Home Scandal and the driving force of corruption, greed, and betrayal at the highest level of State government.”
The Republican-led Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, which includes Staten Island Representative Nicole Malliotakis, has been actively gathering testimonies from various stakeholders. These include families of COVID victims and state ethics officials involved in the controversy surrounding Cuomo’s handling of the pandemic.
“For nearly four years, Governor Cuomo has stonewalled our Committee as we seek to prevent the next pandemic, improve government’s preparedness and response plans, and gather answers for families who lost elderly loved ones because of his order forcing nursing homes to accept positive patients even if they could not care for them,” Malliotakis stated, was noted in the Post report.
Malliotakis has outlined several pivotal questions that will be posed to Cuomo and his administration. These questions reflect the concerns of affected families, health policy experts, and state ethics officials:
The March 25, 2020 Edict:
Whose Idea Was It? The directive mandating nursing homes to accept COVID-19 positive patients discharged from hospitals has been heavily criticized for its role in spreading the virus among vulnerable nursing home populations. The panel seeks to identify the origin of this policy, who created it, and the rationale behind its implementation.
Duration of the Directive: Despite early indications that the virus was rapidly spreading through nursing homes, the edict remained in place for six weeks. The panel will question why this directive was not rescinded sooner.
Underutilization of Emergency Hospitals:
Javits Center and USS Comfort: During the height of the pandemic, New York City had access to emergency hospital facilities, such as the Javits Center and the USS Comfort, which provided thousands of additional beds. The panel will investigate why these resources were underutilized while nursing homes struggled to manage the influx of COVID-19 patients.
Cuomo’s Pandemic Book:
Timing and Impact: In the midst of the pandemic, Cuomo decided to write a book, “American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic,” reportedly earning $5 million. The panel will explore whether this decision impacted his governance and if the desire to create a favorable narrative influenced his pandemic response.
Undercounting Nursing Home Deaths:
Accuracy of Data: There are allegations that the Cuomo administration significantly undercounted or misled the public about the number of nursing home residents who died from COVID-19. The panel aims to uncover the truth behind these discrepancies and the potential motivations for such actions.
Testimonies and Consultations
The Post report said that the subcommittee has consulted various sources, including Bill Hammond, a senior fellow for health policy at the Empire Center for Public Policy, who has issued critical reports on Cuomo’s handling of the pandemic. Additionally, state ethics officials reviewing the controversial book deal have provided insights into the ethical considerations surrounding Cuomo’s actions.
His administration’s decisions during the early days of the pandemic, particularly the March 2020 directive that required nursing homes to admit COVID-19 patients discharged from hospitals, have been heavily criticized, according to the information contained in The Post report. Critics argue that this policy led to a higher rate of infections and fatalities in nursing homes, where residents were especially susceptible to the virus.
In addition to Cuomo, the panel has also interviewed other significant figures, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), to gain a broader understanding of the federal and state responses to the pandemic.
For families such as the Arbeenys, the congressional investigation offers a glimmer of hope for accountability and transparency. The detailed timeline provided by Peter Arbeeny reflects a deep sense of loss and frustration shared by many who lost loved ones in nursing homes during the pandemic.
The subcommittee, which includes Staten Island Representative Nicole Malliotakis, has outlined several pivotal questions that will be posed to Cuomo and his administration. These questions reflect the concerns of affected families, health policy experts, and state ethics officials:
The March 25, 2020 Edict:
Whose Idea Was It? The directive mandating nursing homes to accept COVID-19 positive patients discharged from hospitals has been heavily criticized for its role in spreading the virus among vulnerable nursing home populations. The panel seeks to identify the origin of this policy, who created it, and the rationale behind its implementation.
Duration of the Directive: Despite early indications that the virus was rapidly spreading through nursing homes, the edict remained in place for six weeks. The panel will question why this directive was not rescinded sooner.
Underutilization of Emergency Hospitals:
Javits Center and USS Comfort: During the height of the pandemic, New York City had access to emergency hospital facilities, such as the Javits Center and the USS Comfort, which provided thousands of additional beds. The panel will investigate why these resources were underutilized while nursing homes struggled to manage the influx of COVID-19 patients.
Cuomo’s Pandemic Book:
Timing and Impact: In the midst of the pandemic, Cuomo decided to write a book, “American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic,” reportedly earning $5 million. The panel will explore whether this decision impacted his governance and if the desire to create a favorable narrative influenced his pandemic response.
Undercounting Nursing Home Deaths:
Accuracy of Data: There are allegations that the Cuomo administration significantly undercounted or misled the public about the number of nursing home residents who died from COVID-19. The panel aims to uncover the truth behind these discrepancies and the potential motivations for such actions.
Testimonies and Consultations
The subcommittee has consulted various sources, including Bill Hammond, a senior fellow for health policy at the Empire Center for Public Policy, who has issued critical reports on Cuomo’s handling of the pandemic. Additionally, state ethics officials reviewing the controversial book deal have provided insights into the ethical considerations surrounding Cuomo’s actions.
Peter Arbeeny, who lost his father, Norman, to COVID-19 after his release from a Brooklyn nursing home, has been a vocal critic of Cuomo’s policies. Arbeeny’s detailed 121-page timeline, hosted on wecarewall.com, outlines what he perceives as lies, manipulations, and misdeeds by the Cuomo administration. The document’s preface highlights Cuomo’s lucrative book deal as a symbol of corruption and betrayal.
“We look forward to finally getting answers, transparency, and accountability for New Yorkers,” said Malliotakis. The panel’s investigations aim to prevent future mishandling of pandemics, improve government preparedness and response plans, and provide closure for families who lost loved ones due to perceived administrative failures.
Amid the numerous sexual harassment and misconduct accusations that led to his resignation, Cuomo maintains that his management of the pandemic was appropriate given the unprecedented challenges. The Post reported that he looks forward to defending his decisions and actions before the congressional panel, which will be his first official interview with congressional probers.
