Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf on Jan. 26 signed House Bill 253, which aims to help frontline workers fighting the Covid-19 pandemic. 

House Bill 253 as amended sets aside $225 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding to support the following healthcare areas:

• $100 million to be distributed to all 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, a high-demand program which has already received more than 8,000 applications in advance of the March 1 deadline.

“Our healthcare workers have been pushed to capacity physically, financially, mentally and emotionally these last two years as we battle the Covid-19 pandemic,” Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa said. “Not only do they deserve our support and continued advocacy for every eligible person to get vaccinated, but they also need the resources to continue this battle against Covid-19.”