[15] The state sent inspectors on October 21[6] in a surprise inspection, concluding that the center had yet to "establish and maintain an infection prevention and control program.
[18] Reported on November 9, 2018, two anonymous employees spoke to NJ Advance Media and claimed that "senior administrators delayed sending kids to the hospital" to keep the pediatric unit as full as possible, maximizing funds amounting to $519.46 from Medicaid per patient per day.
"[8] Over three visits in early November, state inspectors gave the Wanaque Center the worst rating possible, "immediate jeopardy.
[7] A November 17[7] report by the New York office of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)[16] blamed the outbreak on the center's response, particularly management for lack of planning and slow responses, leading to delays "in identifying, reporting and controlling the outbreak.
Among those cases, 18-year old freshman Olivia Paregol, who was "immunosuppressed because of medication for Crohn's disease",[3] died on November 18, 2018.
[21] In January 2019, the University of Maryland began a weeks-long effort to have a contracted cleaning company disinfect all surfaces in the dorms where the outbreak occurred.
[2] On November 20, 2018, members of the New Jersey Legislature representing the affected district sent a letter to New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal requesting an investigation of claims that "the facility delayed sending children for treatment for non-medical reasons" relating to the collection of Medicaid payments.
[27] The issue was included through $2.5 million in competitive grant funding by the proposed budget of New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy.
[30] On August 15, 2019, Murphy cited the 11 dead children of the Wanaque Center outbreak when signing the bill into law.
Among other regulations, A5527 requires certain long-term facilities to provide outbreak response plans to the state[26] within 180 days of signing.
[9] At the time the bill was signed, Wanaque remained under state and federal investigation for how it handled the outbreak.