LANSING, Mich. — Michigan's House Oversight Committee held a hearing Thursday morning on nursing home deaths in the state during the pandemic.
Elizabeth Hertel, director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, testified.
The committee examined how the state may have undercounted COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes. The panel will also heard testimony on legislation prohibiting disciplinary action against a state employee for communicating with a member of the Legislature.
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Hertel says long-term care facilities are accurately reporting the number of coronavirus-related deaths.
She told lawmakers nursing homes have no “reason or incentive to try to hide” deaths.
The Republican-led House Oversight Committee held the hearing after Detroit-area journalist Charlie LeDuff and the Mackinac Center Legal Foundation questioned if there is an undercount.
Hertel called “untrue” the contention that deaths found by analyzing death certificates may not be reflected in data submitted by long-term care facilities.