SAN ANTONIO — More than a year after Texas' long-term care facilities were ravaged by COVID-19, they now face a new challenge.

The facilities are currently getting a bit more money for every Medicaid resident to help offset the increased costs of the pandemic. But that extra money will stop once the federal public health emergency ends in July. 

Now, a new coalition called United in Care is trying to keep the funding in the state budget. 

"Just because the federal public health emergency ends and just because vaccinations are up and COVID rates are down does not mean the threat is no longer here," said Cara Gustafson, a spokesperson for United in Care. "There are going to be certain guidelines that remain in place to keep our residents safe."  

Before the pandemic, Texas ranked 49th in the nation for its Medicaid reimbursement rate. State leaders approved a funding increase of about $20 a day, from about $141 a day to $160, to help facility operators offset added costs. 

Gustafson says the $285 million needed to maintain the current level of funding through 2023 was not included in the state's budget, but it is in a wish list. 

"Pulling out funding now would only exacerbate a problem when they're in the middle of a fight and the end is near," she said.  

Advocates also say without more funding, providing quality care to residents will diminish as facilities continue to face staffing shortages. 

"One of the biggest reasons there are so many staffing shortages in the tens of thousands pre-COVID was because they were unable to offer competitive wages," Gustafson said. "When you can't offer competitive wages, you can't maintain and recruit this high-skilled staff that you need. So part of this money will be done to do just that." 

Click the video link above to watch our full interview with Gustafson.