Lawmakers grilled former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo over his controversial COVID-era nursing home policies, demanding that he apologize to families who lost loved ones during the pandemic. Cuomo testified before a House select committee investigating coronavirus, addressing concerns about elderly deaths after patients were admitted into nursing homes without COVID-19 testing. Under Cuomo’s leadership, the New York State Department of Health issued an advisory on March 25, 2020, stating that nursing homes were prohibited from requiring COVID-19 testing for medically stable hospitalized residents prior to admission or readmission. Lawmakers argued that this advisory prevented nursing homes from denying admission to COVID positive patients.
Rep. Elise Stefanik accused Cuomo and his senior aides of ordering, directing, and executing the deadly executive order, which went against CDC and CMS guidance. She demanded that Cuomo apologize to the families affected by his decisions, emphasizing his culpability in the situation. Despite claiming that the decision ultimately rested with the nursing homes, Cuomo admitted during the hearing that he did not consult with the CDC or CMS before or after issuing the advisory. He defended the advisory as being in compliance with federal guidelines, blaming the federal response and former President Donald Trump for the thousands of COVID-related deaths in nursing homes across New York.
A 2023 report from the NYS Department of Health calculated the number of COVID-related deaths in nursing homes in various counties in New York, including 826 in Suffolk County, 813 in Erie County, and 623 in Queens County. Cuomo faced criticism from Republican members on the committee for deflecting blame onto others, including former President Trump. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks expressed disappointment that Cuomo did not show remorse or take responsibility for the deaths that occurred in New York nursing homes. Chairman Wenstrup also expressed skepticism about Cuomo’s lack of self-reflection and accountability during the hearing.
In his closing remarks, Chairman Wenstrup criticized Cuomo for not taking responsibility or showing any self-critique of his actions. He accused Cuomo of doubling down and blaming others instead of engaging in soul-searching or acknowledging opportunities for improvement. The hearing shed light on the controversy surrounding Cuomo’s handling of nursing home policies during the COVID-19 pandemic, as lawmakers pressed him to take responsibility for the decisions that led to thousands of deaths. Cuomo’s testimony and responses during the hearing highlighted the ongoing debate over accountability and transparency in government responses to public health crises.
