Letter to Alex Azar, Secretary of the Dept. of Health and Human Services - Press Release: Congressmen Vela and Cloud Urge HHS Secretary Azar for Additional Federal Resources to Combat COVID-19, Including Additional Personnel

Letter

Dear Secretary Azar:

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, health systems throughout the Gulf Coast in Texas
have responded to meet the needs of our communities. Unfortunately, with the recent surge in
COVID19 cases, our health systems have been pushed to their limits.

Thank you for the Administration's responsiveness to our inquiries and requests thus far as our
region addresses this surge in COVID-19 cases. After discussions with local leaders and hospital
administrators, it is becoming clear that there is an ongoing need for additional support from the
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) particularly as it relates to the personnel necessary
to address capacity shortfalls. The need to address surge capacity is especially important as we enter
the peak of hurricane season on the Gulf Coast.

On June 1, 2020 there were 114 active cases in Nueces County. As of July 14th, there are 5,694
active cases. COVID-19 hospitalizations in the Corpus Christi Trauma Service Area have increased by
over 2000% in the past month. In recent days, Nueces and Victoria Counties have become two of the
highest per capita counties for new cases in Texas. The health systems and local officials are doing all
they can to support and expand operations in light of these spikes. However, ICU beds are at or near
capacity across the region.

Providers in our region have urgently requested additional staffing as well as medical supplies
including oxygen, ventilators, personal protective equipment, and dialysis machines as well as
additional facilities to enhance critical care and discharge capacity. With that in mind, we appreciate
that your Department just approved a Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) to assess the situation
in Corpus Christi. While we are grateful for the federal medical personnel already in place or on the way,
we ask the DMAT to identify ways to help hospitals address ongoing personnel shortages as they work
to meet surge capacity needs.

As the DMAT evaluates the situation on the ground, we ask that HHS promptly consider whether
an additional tranche of hotspot funding under the Provider Relief Fund provided in the CARES Act
would be appropriate for areas, like the Coastal Bend, that have experienced surges after the April
10th and June 10th cutoffs. We also write to ask you to consider whether the region needs a Federal
Medical Station, or similar facility, if the surge in hospitalizations continues either from COVID-19 or
unforeseen weather events, and in the event that local health systems cannot sustain the room capacity
necessary to adequately care for the medical needs of their given community.

The rapid deployment of additional federal resources would go a long way to alleviate and
augment the local response as we continue to experience increases in COVID-19 cases. We appreciate
your consideration of our requests and look forward to working with you to provide much needed relief
to Texans.

Sincerely,

Source