U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-16th, and several House colleagues sent a letter to Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro on Tuesday, asking if Pennsylvania plans to study and report on nursing home-related deaths during the pandemic.

The congressmen maintained New York recently issued a report that revealed deaths in long-term care facilities were underreported by roughly 50%.

“One of the primary causes of the large number of nursing home fatalities in New York was the state government’s order that nursing homes admit COVID-19 positive individuals,” the letter states.

The letter recognizes the Pennsylvania Department of Health last year issued similar guidance, requiring that nursing homes allow new admissions and readmissions, even for those diagnosed with COVID-19.

The letter asserts public reporting from the state health department indicates more than half of the COVID-19 related deaths in Pennsylvania are attributable to nursing and personal home care populations.

“We have heard from many Pennsylvanians that are concerned with the state policies that put nursing and personal care home facility residents at risk,” the letter further states.

The document concludes by asking if Shapiro’s office plans to issue a report similar to New York’s, and how it will ensure publicly available information is accurate.