Owlett Applauds Investment in Health Care Workers, Nurse Student Loan Forgiveness
HARRISBURG – In recognition of ongoing challenges facing health care facilities across the Commonwealth, the General Assembly has approved and sent to the governor’s desk legislation that would provide $210 million to support health care workers, as well as $15 million in nurse student loan forgiveness, said Rep. Clint Owlett (R-Tioga/Bradford/Potter).
“Hospitals across the state have been hit very hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, but it has been especially challenging for the small rural hospitals like those in my district,” Owlett said. “They truly answer the call, not just during COVID-19 for the past two years, but each and every day. This is a much-needed and well-deserved investment that will help them continue their mission of caring for the citizens of rural Pennsylvania.”
Watch Rep. Owlett’s comments on the legislation here.
House Bill 253 would direct $100 million in funding to be shared among all hospitals and $110 million to be directed at critical access hospitals, high Medicaid-use hospitals and behavioral health providers.
The breakdown of funding for area hospitals is as follows:
• UPMC Wellsboro (Tioga County): $281,880.
• Troy Community Hospital (Bradford County): $180,692.
• UPMC Cole (Potter County): $354,157.
The bill also allocates $15 million in nurse student loan forgiveness.
“Nurses have had one of the toughest jobs through this pandemic, tending to the day-to-day needs of their patients while also providing comfort and companionship at a time when those patients were not permitted visits with their loved ones,” Owlett said. “We need those nurses, and we need more like them. Offering student loan forgiveness both demonstrates our appreciation and encourages more nurses to enter the field.”
Representative Clint Owlett
68th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Patricia Hippler
717.772.9846
phippler@pahousegop.com
RepOwlett.com /
Facebook.com/RepOwlett