NYS Legislature to Hold Hearing on the Impact of COVID-19 on Residential Health Care Facilities

Senate Contact: Gary Ginsburg (518) 455-2415
ginsburg@nysenate.gov

Assembly Contact: Kerri Biché (518) 455-3888
bichek@nyassembly.gov

For Immediate Release: July 31, 2020

MEDIA ADVISORY

NYS Legislature to Hold Hearing on the Impact of COVID-19 on Residential Health Care Facilities

Date: Monday, August 3, 2020

Time:  10:00 a.m.

Location:

Web Link: https://www.nysenate.gov/events
https://www.nyassembly.gov/av/live/

Senate and Assembly Health Committee Chairs Senator Gustavo Rivera and Assemblymember Richard Gottfried, Aging Committee Chairs Senator Rachel May and Assemblymember Harry Bronson, Senate Investigations and Government Operations Committee Chair James Skoufis and Assembly Oversight, Analysis and Investigations Committee Chair John T. McDonald III will take testimony to examine the impact of COVID-19 on residential health care facilities and other long-term care settings, and will hear recommendations for improving systems, protocols and practices to reduce transmission and mortality rates of contagious diseases and improve the outcomes and experiences of patients, families, caregivers and providers. This is the first of two hearings on this topic. In the interest of public health and safety, the hearings will be conducted virtually using web-based video conferencing.

According to the Department of Health (DOH), as of July 13, 2020, there were approximately 6,300 individuals that resided in residential health care facilities that were confirmed or presumed to have died from COVID-19, representing approximately 20 percent of the total COVID-19 fatalities in the state of New York. Though residential healthcare facilities and other long-term care providers are subject to various laws and regulations related to controlling the spread of various infectious diseases, many facilities have still experienced significant outbreaks of COVID-19.

The committees will seek input from stakeholders across the state related to distribution of medical supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE), safety inspections and enforcement during the State of Emergency, as well as the practices and procedures of residential health care facilities in responding to COVID-19.

Note: Watch webcast live here