Today, state Rep. Ryan Bizzarro, D-Erie, announced support for the region’s hospitals and behavioral health providers. The funding is the result of bipartisan legislation passed by the General Assembly in January.
“Our health care workers who’ve been on the front lines of COVID-19 and show up every day for us deserve our support,” Bizzarro said. “I worked across the aisle to deliver these badly needed funds.”
More than $6.6 million will go to 10 hospitals and care facilities, including LECOM Health Corry Memorial, Millcreek Community Hospital, Saint Vincent Hospital, UPMC Hamot, Sarah A. Reed Children’s Center, Harborcreek Youth Services, Gaudenzia Crossroads, Gage House, Starways Stabilization & Diversion Unit, and Long Term Structured Residence.
The money is part of Act 2 of 2022, legislation that appropriated $225 million to support the following health care areas:
- $100 million to be distributed to acute care, critical access, and children’s hospitals licensed by the Department of Health on a per-bed basis. The funding will be used strictly for recruitment and retention payments to direct care staff.
- $110 million to be distributed on a per-bed basis to high-Medical Assistance hospitals, designated Critical Access Hospitals, and inpatient and residential behavioral health facilities for recruitment and retention payments to key staff.
- $15 million to quadruple the funds available for the nurse loan forgiveness program at Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA), a high-demand program which has already received more than 20,000 applications by the March 1st deadline.
Staffing shortages and high numbers of patients in Bizzarro’s region have contributed to community and psychiatric hospitals reaching capacity and patient diversion. Hospitals and health care systems asked for funding specifically for recruitment and retention of key personnel.
Bizzarro added: “We must take the health of our community seriously and that means caring for the people who care for them. This is just the beginning of the support they deserve.”
Further details on hospitals and facilities receiving allocations are available on DHS’s website.
