Hospitals in North Texas have requested 619 clinical support staff to help fill vacancies and emergency needs according to the North Central Texas Trauma Regional Advisory Council (NCTTRAC).
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State officials previously approved requests from regional hospital councils. The Department of State Health Services spent $5.39 billion funding requests for medical surge staffing, almost all of which reimbursed by FEMA, according to a spokesperson. At the peak of needs in February, the state was supporting 13,618 medical staff.
Now the state is denying those requests and telling hospitals to ask city and county leaders to use federal COVID relief funds, but local leaders had much of that money already accounted for. Dallas County has not approved its plan but is expected to use its $512 million on programs like broadband infrastructure, affordable housing, and business assistance.
Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins: "We had planned to use the money to increase broadband, for mental health care, for rental assistance and other programs. What the state is saying is ‘we’re not going to help you anymore with COVID through mask requirements or allowing hospitals and schools to do things to keep people safe," Jenkins said. “Their excuse to us is that they’re using their money to help other jurisdictions. Not real clear what those other jurisdictions are.”
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