As a potential federal vaccination mandate for healthcare workers looms, Texas nursing homes are asking the state for $400 million in pandemic relief to combat staff shortages, according to an Oct. 2 report from the Texas Tribune.
Forty percent of the state's 100,000 nursing home employees are not vaccinated, according to CMS. Gov. Greg Abbott vowed to fight any vaccination mandates, but industry officials in the state are still concerned.
The funding request also seeks an additional $350 million for new infection-control measures and their permanent maintenance for future crises.
"I am concerned that without additional funding necessary to recruit and retain current staff and develop opportunities to bring new employees into the profession, we will see continuously increasing access-to-care issues with expanding admission restrictions, closures, small independent owners being forced to sell, and bankruptcies," Kevin Warren, president and CEO of the Texas Health Care Association, told the Texas Tribune.