Pa. Senate passes new funding for hospitals, health care workers

WILKES-BARRE — State Sen. Lisa Baker this week said the Pennsylvania Senate approved critical funding for hospitals and front line health care workers who continue to keep Pennsylvanians safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Baker, R-Lehman Township, said it is anticipated that the House of Representatives will also swiftly consider the measure.

“I am pleased that the General Assembly has come together to advance this legislation to aid health care workers across our Commonwealth,” Senator Baker said. “The support will be distributed from the money Pennsylvania received as part of the federal American Rescue Plan.”

Baker said House Bill 253 would allocate a total of $225 million to hospitals and their employees.

The additional dollars will be allocated as follows:

• $100 million for acute care general hospitals.

• $110 million for critical access hospitals, facilities with a high volume of Medicaid patients, and behavioral/psychiatric providers.

• $15 million for the PA Student Loan Relief for Nurses Program.

Rep. Aaron Kaufer, R-Kingston, said the funding will be available to help Luzerne County hospitals and behavioral health centers recruit and retain nurses and other health care professionals.

“Our nurses and health care providers have been performing difficult work under extreme pressure and we want them to know their hard work is appreciated,” Kaufer said. “These health care professionals have worked under extremely difficult circumstances and they deserve the equivalent of combat pay.”

Geisinger Executive Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive, Janet Tomcavage, emphasized how this support will help with the challenges currently facing local health care workers.

“This pandemic has taken its toll on health care workers both personally and professionally, and as an organization we have worked diligently to help our employees through these unprecedented circumstances,” Tomcavage said. “Health care workers need our collective support right now, and we’re grateful the General Assembly has recognized the incredible challenges they continue to experience now, two years into this deadly pandemic, by providing this assistance when our health care heroes need it most.”

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.

Estimated funding list

Berwick Hospital Center, $650,495

Commonwealth Health First Hospital: $652,728

Geisinger Jersey Shore, $180,693

Geisinger Shamokin Community, $346,931

Geisinger Medical Center, $3,649,999

Geisinger St. Luke’s Hospital, $113,880

Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre Campus, $136,656

Geisinger Wyoming Valley Hospital, $745,914

Geisinger Bloomsburg Hospital, $433,663

Geisinger Community Medical Center, $834,171

Geisinger Lewistown Hospital, $961,287

Lehigh Valley Hazleton, $1,084,158

Moses Taylor Hospital, $881,782

Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, $1,172,964