Jan. 27, 2022
HARRISBURG – Rep. Barry Jozwiak (R-Berks) voices his support of
House Bill 253, which was jointly passed by the House and Senate and signed into law by the governor this week, that will directly provide assistance to Pennsylvania hospitals and health care workers.
“Our hospitals, as well as health care workers, have seen and experienced much of the critical health crisis Pennsylvania has endured,” said Jozwiak. “The money allocated through the enactment of this law is one of the ways we are honoring the incredible services they have provided and ensuring they see some financial relief to alleviate the burden of massive incurred costs to keep their facilities open and running.”
House Bill 253 (now Act 2 of 2022), 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.
Local health care facilities in the 5th Legislative District will receive funding as follows:
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Haven Behavioral Hospital of Eastern PA, $376,742.
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Reading Hospital, $4.59 million.
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St. Joseph Medical Center Main, $580,783.
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Threshold RTF-A, $26,284.
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Tower Behavioral Health, $630,824.
This legislation also provides $15 million in funding for the nurse student loan forgiveness through the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency.