Jan. 26, 2022
HARRISBURG – Continuing efforts by House Republicans to prioritize, protect and recognize the tireless efforts of frontline health care heroes, the House voted unanimously to direct federally provided aid to critically impacted parts of the health care system.
House Bill 253 allocates $225 million to hospitals and their employees.
The funds will be allocated in the following ways:
• $100 million for acute care general hospitals.
• $110 million for critical access, or hospitals serving rural populations; facilities with high volume Medicaid patients; and behavioral/psychiatric providers.
• $15 million for the PA Student Loan Relief for Nurses Program.
“The steps we are taking today are a continuation of the efforts our caucus has made to prioritize frontline workers throughout the pandemic,” Speaker Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) said. “There has never been a remote work option for our health care and EMS heroes. They continue to make sacrifices to help our communities recover and heal. I want to thank those who have selflessly answered the call to help for months on end and hope the steps we are taking today continue to bring us closer to ending the COVID-19 crisis.”
The legislation requires the funding to be directed to retention and recruitment programs for staff. Hospital executives and administration, contracted staff, and physicians would not be eligible for payments under this bill. The funding would only be directed to nurses and other hospitals employees.
The bill passed the House this afternoon and Gov. Tom Wolf pledged to sign the bill into law.
Speaker Bryan Cutler
100th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives