Shusterman applauds passage of H.B. 253, help for health care workers

HARRISBURG, Jan. 27 – State Rep. Melissa Shusterman, D-Chester/Montgomery, said she applauds the unanimous passage of Pennsylvania H.B. 253.

The bill was signed into law as Act 2 of 2022 by Gov. Tom Wolf and delivers $225 million in federal American Rescue Plan funding to help nurses and health care workers who have been on the front lines battling COVID-19 for two years.

The House Appropriations Committee estimates $1,282,271 of that funding would go directly to facilities in Chester County. Paoli Hospital would receive $657,651, Phoenixville Hospital would receive $409,964, and The Devereux Children’s Behavioral Health Institute would receive $214,656. The Department of Human Services will make the final determinization of funding.

“This money is going where it is needed most, to our overworked health care workers here in Chester County,” Shusterman said. “I am proud the state House was able to come together and pass this important bipartisan legislation, and I look forward to seeing these funds invested in our local health care facilities.”

Per Act 2, $100 million will be provided to hospitals in the state to provide much needed retention and recruitment funds; $110 million would be provided to hospitals that provide behavioral health services, serve a high amount of Medical Assistance clients, or are in some of our most rural parts of the state; an additional $15 million will be used to increase the amount of student loan forgiveness that can be provided to nurses in various settings.