Governor Shapiro’s proposed 2025-26 finances contains $10 million in state funds that, mixed with federal funding, will make investments $35.1 million in rural hospitals to make sure that Pennsylvanians in rural communities can proceed to entry well being care companies the place they dwell.
The Governor’s finances additionally proposes $10 million in state funds to help hospitals throughout Pennsylvania. This funding will permit the Commonwealth to leverage federal funding and make investments $35.1 million in hospitals to help the Commonwealth in responding to pressing affected person wants and staffing necessities.
Erie, PA – In the present day, Division of Human Providers (DHS) Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh visited Wayne Main Care, a federally certified well being heart (FQHC) operated by Main Well being Community, to debate essential well being care workforce investments included in Governor Shapiro’s proposed 2025–26 finances. The finances prioritizes rural well being throughout the Commonwealth, and community-based well being care suppliers like FQHCs play a necessary function in increasing entry to care, notably in rural and underserved areas.
“Getting access to well being care in your neighborhood and near house is one thing that each Pennsylvanian deserves. Sadly, for too many individuals, the place they dwell dictates the well being care they’ve entry to, and many individuals have to journey lengthy distances to get the care they want,” stated Secretary Arkoosh. “Governor Shapiro’s finances goals to vary that by making strategic investments in hospitals and within the well being care workforce, which is able to enhance the well being of all Pennsylvanians by increasing entry to care. I stay up for working with the Administration and the Common Meeting to ensure Pennsylvanians get the well being care they want regardless of the place they dwell.”
Investing in hospitals statewide is a precedence for the Shapiro Administration. With a proposed state funding of $10 million, Pennsylvania can draw down federal matching funds to assist offset rising prices, for a complete of $35.1 million to help this initiative. DHS will use these funds to help the Commonwealth in responding to pressing shopper well being care wants and staffing necessities. The proposed finances additionally contains $10 million in state funds that, mixed with federal funding, will make investments $35.1 million in rural hospitals to make sure that Pennsylvanians in rural communities can proceed to entry well being care companies the place they dwell. The finances features a additional $20 million in state funding to supply affected person security and help to hospitals in a brand new devoted appropriation, to handle obstacles to care like affordability, transportation and dependable suppliers.
As well as, Pennsylvania in going through shortages of well being care professionals, notably in rural communities, the place there is just one main care doctor for each 522 residents. Conversely, in city areas, there’s one main care doctor for each 222 residents. Meaning rural Pennsylvanians, who already should journey additional distances to see their docs, even have much less entry to well being care. The 2025-26 proposed finances invests $5 million to broaden the Main Care Mortgage Reimbursement Program providing mortgage reimbursement for well being care suppliers who serve in rural communities.
“Offering high quality medical take care of folks near their houses is crucial. Presently, rural Pennsylvanians journey additional for his or her care than those that dwell in city elements of the state. The Shapiro Administration is taking a multi-pronged method to handle well being care workforce challenges throughout the Commonwealth, together with in rural communities,” stated Secretary of Well being Dr. Debra Bogen. “Governor Shapiro’s finances proposal provides recruitment and retention incentives that might help extra well being care professionals, together with behavioral well being suppliers and well being professionals to work in hospitals and communities.”
Wayne Main Care is a part of Main Well being Community, Pennsylvania’s largest neighborhood well being heart, which is devoted to offering high-quality, patient-centered care throughout a broad vary of companies, together with main care, behavioral well being, dental, pediatrics, podiatry, chiropractic, and extra. With a workforce of compassionate suppliers and employees, Main Well being Community provides complete care centered on selling total well being and empowering sufferers to guide more healthy lives.
Final 12 months, Main Well being Community served over 75,000 sufferers throughout 16 counties in Pennsylvania and one county in Ohio. The community participates in most managed care plans, accepts all kinds of insurances, and provides a sliding price low cost for eligible sufferers.
“We’re honored to welcome Secretary Arkoosh to our Wayne Main Care and deeply recognize her dedication to understanding the essential function neighborhood well being facilities play in caring for our communities,” stated Main Well being Community CEO George Garrow, MD. “Her go to underscores the significance of sustained help for Medicaid, which is crucial to making sure entry to high quality, inexpensive healthcare for the people and households we serve day by day.”
Along with the investments above, Governor Shapiro’s 2025-26 budget proposal takes motion to construct a extra aggressive well being care workforce by the next investments:
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$10 million to broaden behavioral well being mortgage reimbursement packages, making certain suppliers can be found statewide – together with in rural communities – to satisfy the rising demand for psychological well being care and tackle a essential workforce scarcity.
Watch Governor Shapiro’s full finances tackle to a joint session of the Home and Senate here. See the Governor’s full remarks as ready for supply here.
Learn extra about Governor Shapiro’s 2025-26 budget proposal. Discover the Governor’s 2025-26 Funds in Transient here, or go to shapirobudget.pa.gov to be taught extra.
