NY undercounted the number of deaths in nursing homes by as much as 50%
Audit: DOH misrepresented COVID-19 nursing home deaths
PDF of the audit https://www.osc.state.ny.us/files/state-agencies/audits/pdf/sga-2022-20s55.pdf
Albany, NY (WRGB) — A new audit, shedding light on the nursing home death scandal in New York state.
State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli's office released findings of an audit that are now saying the DOH undercounted COVID related deaths in those homes by at least 4,100 people.
At times during the pandemic, the report says- that matches up to more than 50 percent of deaths.
When questioned by auditors- the report says that DOH officials couldn't explain the discrepancies in the numbers.
This follows the State Attorney General's office's report just over one year ago- which also found deaths were undercounted, by as much as half.
The former governor's team- including spokesperson Rich Azzopardi- is questioning the timing of the audit's release tonight, saying "As the number of out of facility deaths were reported last January this is not news, however what is peculiar is the Comptroller’s release of this audit now — but no one's ever accused DiNapoli of being above politics."
Cuomo has repeatedly denied these allegations.
State Attorney General Letitia James commented saying “This audit affirms many of the findings that we uncovered last year about the state’s response to COVID, most notably that DOH and the former governor undercounted the number of deaths in nursing homes by as much as 50 percent. I am grateful to Comptroller DiNapoli for bringing much needed transparency to this critical issue. My office will continue to monitor nursing home conditions and ensure the safety of our most vulnerable residents. If anyone has concerns about nursing home conditions, I urge them to contact my office
DiNapoli says that was pandemic was devastating for all New Yorkers living in nursing homes.
Our audit findings are extremely troubling. The public was misled by those at the highest level of state government through distortion and suppression of the facts when New Yorkers deserved the truth. The pandemic is not over, and I am hopeful the current administration will make changes to improve accountability and protect lives. An important step would be for DOH to provide the families who lost loved ones with answers as to the actual number of nursing homes residents who died. These families are still grieving, and they deserve no less.
The full audit can be found here.
https://www.osc.state.ny.us/files/state-agencies/audits/pdf/sga-2022-20s55.pdf
https://cnycentral.com/news/local/audit-doh-misrepresented-covid-19-nursing-home-deaths
https://archive.ph/wip/ahhfk