Audit finds NY medical equipment unused, costing taxpayers

Nearly half a billion dollars in state-owned medical equipment is sitting unused in warehouses across New York, according to an audit by the Office of the State Comptroller. The audit revealed that almost all of the equipment purchased during the COVID-19 pandemic remains untouched five years later.

“I was stunned, quite frankly, by the audit,” said Sen. Pam Helming.

Helming doesn’t fault state leaders for their efforts to address the health crisis, but says she would like to know why little has been done since to offload the unneeded equipment.

“I know I have constituents in my rural areas that would benefit from being able to use that equipment and it’s just stockpiled in warehouses,” said Helming.

In 2021, a committee recommended keeping about 50,000 items from the stockpile, and the DOH surveyed healthcare providers to gauge interest in the rest. Johnson said they found interest in approximately 25,000 pieces, but there has been no follow-up to deliver the equipment.

Helming says given taxpayers have already paid for the equipment, it’s time it’s turned over to those who can use it.

“I think the state should work with their counties and find out who could benefit, what counties need those types of resources, and allocate it to the counties,” Helming said.