Public health departments worry about competing with hospitals for staff

Health departments are worried that the extra pandemic funding they've received won't be sustainable in the long term as they face competition for workers with hospitals, Bloomberg Government reported Feb. 14.

As part of the American Rescue Plan, public health agencies at both a local and state level received $4.4 billion to expand their departments. However, competition with hospitals and private companies for staff is worrying public health officials, who know they pay less for hard jobs that aren't always stable.

"The issue we face isn't as much the number of dollars we see today, as sustainability," said Umair Shah, MD, secretary of health for Washington state.

Instead, public health officials argue that they need a long-term financial commitment from Congress.

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