Shapiro Admin visits Blair County, hopes to help rural healthcare
BLAIR COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) – In Governor Shapiro's proposed 2024-2025 proposed budget plan, $10 million is being allocated to rural Pennsylvania hospitals, and in a visit to Tyrone, his administration spoke on their plan to use that money to help.
This investment will also leverage an additional $25.1 million in federal matching funds, bringing the total support to $35.1 million.
The Shapiro Administration visited Penn Highlands Tyrone to talk about what the proposed money would go towards, including helping EMS personnel with obstetrics care, citing the recent closures of many maternity clinics in the area.
Moms feeling impacts of Penn Highlands, UPMC labor and delivery closure
'We also are working again on the EMS issue, really to make sure that our EMS providers in those communities are well trained in obstetric care because if they have to transport patients farther, we want to make sure they're comfortable making sure our emergency departments across the state are prepared to handle OB as well,' Department of Health Secretary, Dr. Debra Bogen said.
They also say the money would help these hospitals stay open because, without them, officials believe rural communities would fall into ruin. Currently, healthcare professional shortages are most affecting rural communities. In rural areas, there is only one primary care physician for every 522 residents. This is opposed to the 222 residents that primary care physicians in cities are seeing.
'We are working on making sure there are, you know, we can't prevent hospital closure. That's not the role of the department. But we certainly are looking at ways to support hospitals in the future to, to really remain robust,' Bogen said.
Funding rural hospitals would also help the community flourish.
'We play a significant role in attracting business and industry to spur economic development. And without hospitals, many small towns would not exist. Having a hospital nearby is a sign of community vitality,' Penn Highlands Healthcare Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Trina Abla said.
Governor Shapiro is also adamant about using the budget to recruit healthcare workers by investing $5 million to expand the Primary Care Loan Repayment Program offering loan repayment for healthcare providers that serve in rural communities.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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