The issue in this blog post came up at Hochul's briefing yesterday and it was interesting what she said, and did not say, about the various parts of Monday's emergency order. ... empirecenter.org/publications/h…
First, she framed temporarily suspending insurance review of hospital claims as a way of freeing up personnel to pitch in during a staffing shortage, but then says there has been no major shortage so far. 
Most of the order focused on easing licensing rules so providers could use practitioners from other states and countries, along with retirees and student nurses.
She did not say that any of those people are being use as of yet ...
She did not say that any of those people are being use as of yet ...
On student nurses, for example, she said they "easily could have been and still can be" put to work, suggesting that none has been up to now. ...
She also said that calling up the National Guard, a possibility she floated over the weekend, turned out not to be necessary. ... reuters.com/world/us/new-y…
So how tight is staffing in the state's hospitals and nursing homes? From the data being shared by the state, it's hard to say.
Hochul said 92% of hospital workers statewide had complied with mandate by taking at least one shot, which seemed to leave a 8% shortfall.
Hochul said 92% of hospital workers statewide had complied with mandate by taking at least one shot, which seemed to leave a 8% shortfall.
But the facility-specific numbers available for hospitals show only the rate of staff who are fully vaccinated, with two shots, making it hard to tell where shortages are most severe. ...
Hochul also could not say how many workers have quit or been fired or suspended because of the mandate.
Not could she say how many workers have been granted religious exemptions, which could be revoked depending on the outcome of a lawsuit. ... bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
Not could she say how many workers have been granted religious exemptions, which could be revoked depending on the outcome of a lawsuit. ... bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
The one hard number Hochul did provide seems to have come from GNYHA: that the suspension of insurance utilization review freed up 3,000 workers in downstate hospitals.
That's also the one part of the executive order that has definitely been been put into effect.
Under the order, hospitals can certify that suspending utilization review is necessary to free up staff.
Many (including some with high vax rates) have already done just that.
Under the order, hospitals can certify that suspending utilization review is necessary to free up staff.
Many (including some with high vax rates) have already done just that.
So it appears that the one concrete thing that came out of Hochul's executive order is this:
Hospitals' billing practices will be exempt from routine oversight for the next 30 days whether or not they actually have a shortage of staff.
Hospitals' billing practices will be exempt from routine oversight for the next 30 days whether or not they actually have a shortage of staff.
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