In March, Cuomo Quietly Slipped In Liability Protections To Shield Hard-Hit Nursing Homes From Lawsuits
Several New York state lawmakers, besieged by complaints that poor staffing and shoddy conditions allowed the virus to spread out of control in the homes, said they were blindsided by the provision that was added under the radar by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D). More than 5,300 nursing home residents are believed to have died from COVID-19 in New York alone.
The New York Times:
Buried In N.Y. Budget: Legal Shield For Nursing Homes Rife With Coronavirus
In the chaotic days of late March, as it became clear that New York was facing a catastrophic outbreak of the coronavirus, aides to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo quietly inserted a provision on Page 347 of New York’s final, voluminous budget bill. Many lawmakers were unaware of the language when they approved the budget a few days later. But it provided unusual legal protections for an influential industry that has been devastated by the crisis: nursing home operators. (Harris, Baker and McKinley, 5/13)
In other nursing home news —
The Wall Street Journal:
How A Nursing Home And A Clock Merchant Got Masks Out Of China
Nursing homes, many at the center of outbreaks of the new coronavirus, are struggling to find masks and other supplies their workers need to confront the pandemic. David Reis, owner of a nursing home in Connecticut, found a solution through a friend of a friend who normally imports clocks. The importer, Jordan Steinberg, said he would deliver 400,000 masks to Mr. Reis from China—a month’s supply—if he were paid about $300,000 upfront. “I’m not trying to fool anyone, I did this to make money,” Mr. Steinberg said. “But I worked extra hard on it because I knew this would help someone stay alive. A clock doesn’t help anyone do anything but tell time.” (Wirz and Hufford, 5/14)
ProPublica:
A Quarter Of The Residents At This Nursing Home Died From COVID-19. Families Want Answers.
Standing outside a window at the Bria of Geneva nursing home one morning last week, 2-year-old Rosa Morrow tried to get her grandmother’s attention. She held her palm to the screen. She blew kisses. She counted slowly, “1 … 2 … 3 …”On the other side, 71-year-old Claudette Stasik, who has tested positive for COVID-19, sat in her reclining wheelchair, her eyes closed and her arms crossed against her chest, her gray hair braided to one side. A nurse, wearing gloves, gently rubbed her hand. (Cohen and Coryne, 5/14)
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Wisconsin Nursing Homes With Coronavirus: 38-Plus Being Investigated
After weeks of declining to name nursing homes with coronavirus cases, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services released a list of 38 such facilities on Wednesday. The list does not include nursing homes with fewer than 10 beds, nor does it include facilities that have not had new coronavirus cases in the last 28 days. The state health department did not release any other information, such as the number of cases or deaths at each facility. (Chen, 5/13)
