This review of the Cuomo administration’s handling nursing home deaths is more than a repetition of political missteps already known to the public. It is a devastating analysis that reveals the failures that may have led to more deaths in the COVID-19 epidemic.
To be clear, the state Comptroller Thomas DiNapolis’ audit doesn’t draw a straight line between manipulation of death data from nursing home residents and the deaths of thousands of more than was disclosed to the public. However, it concludes that years of underfunding have hampered state Health Departments ability collect data, analyze it and use it to assist nursing homes in devising strategies to combat the spread COVID-19.
The budgeting in which former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, with so much pride, had deprived the Health Department from the resources it needed in order to manage a pandemic.
Seven months after he quit in disgrace amid a series of scandals, Mr. Cuomo has now tried to reestablish his image by removing another big dent in the image.
Similar to the audit of Attorney General Letitia Jones’ 2021 report, the audit found the Health Department failed to fulfill its sole duty to promote public safety. Instead, the audit found that the Health Department presented COVID-19 data in a way that was misleading the public.
The result: The Health Department failed in its responsibility to account for approximately 4,100 deaths due to COVID-19 between February 2021 and February 2021. Because the exact number is unknown, it is likely that it is only an estimate.
Not all of it is due to the machinations a governor determined not to protect his image (and $5.1 million memoir agreement) and defend himself from federal and legislative investigations. Some of it is due to Mr. Cuomos other political agenda, which is to present himself as a brilliant fiscal manger, to the detriment to the mission of the Health Departments. There is a common thread: Mr. Cuomo created an environment that was toxic to public health for thousands of elderly residents in nursing homes and the workers who cared.
The Health Department, which is typical of many state agencies that are subject to one of Mr. DiNapolis’ unvarnished reviews, claims some of the findings were unfair and tries not to be associated with the previous administration. It is vital that the agency and the governor who fund it take the audit seriously and address any weaknesses it identifies. It is not over and it will not be the last major public health crisis New York will experience. It must be more prepared next time.
It’s worth noting that the audit is occurring during Sunshine Week. This week is dedicated to highlighting the value of open government. This report shows that government information must be clear, complete, and reliable. It is not an ideal but a necessity. It was a matter for life and death when it came down to managing a Pandemic. Cuomo administration’s manipulations of data and refusal to release it are all more reckless and shameful in the light.