Four years later, New York is still awaiting answers despite Hochul’s COVID report

After more than four years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, New Yorkers still lack a trustworthy, independent assessment of their leaders’ response.

This is why State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli is correct in stating that New York still needs an independent commission to review the state’s response.

In a recent Times Union op-ed, DiNapoli criticized a $4 million report by the Olson Group, which was commissioned by Gov. Hochul, as being filled with errors and insufficient in aiding the state in preparing for future pandemics.

Without a comprehensive report, it becomes difficult to hold anyone accountable for failures or to improve readiness for future epidemics.

This poses a serious issue as many of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s policies, such as his directive for nursing homes to accept COVID-positive patients, seem to have been catastrophic mistakes.

“The Olson report failed to provide the rigorous, fact-based examination New York deserved, nor does it provide a roadmap for future improvement,” DiNapoli wrote.

The comptroller raised concerns about Olson’s reliance on inaccurate Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services data regarding nursing home deaths.

His criticism aligns with that of the Empire Center’s Bill Hammond, who criticized Hochul’s after-action review for falling short of expectations and the state’s urgent needs.

The report failed to address key questions, such as:

• What avoidable mistakes were made?

• How can the state better prepare for future outbreaks?

• How can the most vulnerable be protected?

Most importantly, the report did not provide a true account of the deaths in nursing homes and the reasons behind them.

By contrast, an independent review of New Jersey’s pandemic response in March yielded valuable lessons, applicable to New York.

For instance, it found that health officials in New Jersey directly communicated the state’s nursing-home policies to facility operators, allowing them to opt out if they believed it wouldn’t work and reverse the decision later if needed.

An analysis by the Empire Center revealed a significant correlation between patient transfers under Cuomo’s policy and higher death rates in nursing homes that accepted them in New York.

The Swiss-cheese-like nature of the Hochul report was a disappointment to New Yorkers, especially to the families of the 83,000 individuals who lost their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Additionally, it was a considerable waste of money.

Governor Hochul had an opportunity to be transparent about the Cuomo-Hochul team’s pandemic response.

However, it appears she chose to whitewash the situation.

It is time for the Legislature to establish an independent commission, equipped with subpoena power, to deliver the thorough assessment that New Yorkers desire and deserve.

Furthermore, DiNapoli should request a refund for the nearly worthless Olson study.