Senate passes new funding for hospitals, health care workers

​The Governor approved legislation this week that allocates a total of $225 million to hospitals and their employees:
 

• $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.

 
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.