Jan. 27, 2022
HARRISBURG – In response to growing calls to assist health care systems during the COVID-19 pandemic, Rep. Rob Mercuri (R-Allegheny) announced today that the House and Senate have advanced legislation calling for a $250 million infusion of funding to help.
The first part of a two-bill package includes $210 million for hospitals and behavioral health care providers to provide recruitment and retention payments to nurses and other employees involved in direct patient care activities, environmental services or clinical care services. Specifically, $100 million is directed to all hospitals while $110 million goes to critical access hospitals, high Medicaid-use facilities and behavioral health providers.
“As we continue to navigate through this public health issue, my colleagues and I heard from health systems all across Pennsylvania on how we can help alleviate the burdens they face on a daily basis,” said Mercuri. “I am pleased to see our district receive this critical funding so our frontline workers receive the necessary help in order to provide quality care to our communities.”
Local health care facilities will receive funding as follows:
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UPMC Passavant: $1.1 million.
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Allegheny Health Network (AHN) Wexford: $455,516.
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AHN McCandless Neighborhood Hospital: $28,470.
House Bill 253, which passed both chambers this week and was signed into law by the governor, also provides $15 million in funding for nurse student loan forgiveness through the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency.