Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

Pennsylvania House Bill HB157

Introduced
1/14/25  
Refer
1/14/25  
Refer
3/18/25  
Report Pass
3/19/25  
Engrossed
3/19/25  

Caption

Providing for grant awards to entities in rural counties and designated medically underserved areas to pay for the education debt of practitioners employed at the entity.

Impact

If passed, HB157 could substantially alter the landscape of healthcare in Pennsylvania by incentivizing practitioners to work in areas that traditionally struggle with attracting and retaining medical professionals. The grants will be available to various healthcare entities, such as hospitals and federally qualified health centers, which specifically serve rural and underserved urban populations. By alleviating educational debt, the bill encourages young healthcare professionals to consider these regions as viable places for their careers, thus aiming to balance healthcare availability across the state more effectively.

Summary

House Bill 157, known as the Rural Health Care Grant Program Act, aims to provide financial assistance to healthcare entities located in rural counties and designated medically underserved areas. The bill establishes a grant system to alleviate the educational debt burden of practitioners employed by these entities, effectively encouraging them to practice in areas where medical services are scarce. This initiative intends to enhance access to quality healthcare by ensuring that more practitioners are available in these regions, therefore preventing the closure of critical healthcare services resulting from workforce shortages.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding HB157 appears to be predominantly supportive, with a recognition of the critical need for healthcare practitioners in rural and underserved areas. Supporters of the bill argue that it represents a proactive step towards addressing the ongoing healthcare disparities faced by these populations. However, there may also be latent concerns regarding the long-term sustainability of such programs and whether the financial allocation will adequately meet the needs of all eligible entities.

Contention

While there is general support for HB157, some opposition could arise around its financial provisions, specifically regarding the amount and number of grants available annually. Critics may question whether the proposed funding mechanisms are sufficient to cover the needs of all potential applicants or if prioritization of funds could unintentionally exclude some deserving entities. Additionally, there could be discussions about the potential administrative burden on the Department of Health in managing the grant applications and disbursements effectively.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

PA HB2382

Providing for grant awards to entities in rural counties and designated medically underserved areas to pay for the education debt of practitioners employed at the entity.

PA SB25

Further providing for definitions; and providing for the Rural Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner Health Care Access Program.

PA HB1633

Prohibiting the enforcement of certain noncompete covenants entered into by health care practitioners and employers and providing for a study by the Health Care Cost Containment

PA HB2655

In epinephrine auto-injector entities, further providing for definitions and for epinephrine auto-injectors for authorized entities.

PA HB216

Providing for sport activities in public institutions of higher education and public school entities to be expressly designated male, female or coed; and creating causes of action for harms suffered by designation.

PA HB1825

Further providing for title, for definitions, for State Board of Nursing, for dietitian-nutritionist license required, for unauthorized practices and acts not prohibited, for temporary practice permit, for graduates of schools of other states, territories or Dominion of Canada, for persons entitled to practice, for certified registered nurse practitioners and qualifications, for scope of practice for certified registered nurse practitioners, for prescriptive authority for certified registered nurse practitioners, for Drug Review Committee, for professional liability, for reporting of multiple licensure, for continuing nursing education, for punishment for violations, for refusal, suspension or revocation of licenses, for reinstatement of license and for injunction or other process; and providing for the expiration of the State Board of Nursing's power to license certified registered nurse practitioners.

PA SB566

Providing for an inventory of State-owned assets for the development of fixed broadband services in unserved areas; establishing the Broadband Services Restricted Account; and providing for underserved areas of this Commonwealth.

PA HB1892

Providing for an inventory of State-owned assets for the development of fixed broadband services in unserved areas; establishing the Broadband Services Restricted Account; and providing for underserved areas of this Commonwealth.

PA HB27

In preliminary provisions, further providing for Basic Education Funding Commission and for special provisions applicable to limited school years, establishing the Child Reunification Program in the Department of Education and providing for minimum number of days or hours, for public job posting database, for instructional vacancy data and for data transparency; in duties and powers of boards of school directors, further providing for additional schools and departments; in school finances, providing for school district budget timeline for 2024 and for procedure for securing approval of electors; in grounds and buildings, further providing for limitation on new applications for Department of Education approval of public school building projects; in school directors' associations and county boards of school directors, further providing for powers and duties; in intermediate units, further providing for visual services and for school safety and security enhancements; in professional employees, repealing provisions relating to religious garb, insignia, etc., prohibited and penalty; in certification of teachers, further providing for substitute teaching permit for prospective teachers, for locally issued temporary certification for substitute teachers and for permit for classroom monitors; providing for Educator Pipeline Support Grant Program; in pupils and attendance, further providing for compulsory education of physical defectives, for dependent children, for cost of tuition and maintenance of certain exceptional children in approved institutions, for payment of cost of tuition and maintenance of certain exceptional children, for transfer of funds for transferal programs and for children under six with defective hearing and parent or guardian advised of schools, etc.; in safe schools, further providing for definitions and for Office for Safe Schools, repealing provisions relating to regulations and to reporting, further providing for policy relating to bullying and for maintenance of records, repealing provisions relating to safe schools advocate in school districts of the first class, to standing, to enforcement and to construction of article and other laws; in school safety and security, further providing for definitions and for School Safety and Security Committee, providing for duties of committee, further providing for School Safety and Security Grant Program, providing for Targeted School Safety Grants for Nonpublic Schools and School Entities Program, for standardized protocols, for county safe schools' collaborative and for school mental health grants for 2023-2024 school year, further providing for school safety and security coordinator training and providing for reporting and memorandum of understanding, for safe schools advocate in school districts of the first class and for enforcement; in school security, further providing for definitions, for school police officers, for annual report and for school security guards; in school health services, further providing for dental examinations and dental hygiene services and providing for eating disorder awareness and education; in drug and alcohol recovery high school program, providing for enrollment of students; in terms and courses of study, providing for calculation of average daily membership for a dual credit course and further providing for Economic Education and Personal Financial Literacy Programs; in early learning programs, providing for quarterly meetings; in character education program, further providing for character education program; providing for the Dual Credit Innovation and Equity Grant Program; in high schools, further providing for attendance in other districts; in community colleges, further providing for financial program and reimbursement of payments; in educational tax credits, further providing for qualification and application by organizations, for limitations and for low-achieving schools; in school districts of the first class, further providing for qualifications of principals and teachers; in funding for public libraries, providing for State aid for fiscal year 2023-2024; in credit card marketing, further providing for regulation of on-campus credit card marketing; in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for definitions and for payments on account of pupils enrolled in career and technical curriculums, providing for Level-Up Supplement for 2022-2023 school year, further providing for payments on account of courses for exceptional children, for payments to intermediate units, for assistance to school districts declared to be in financial recovery status or identified for financial watch status, for payments, for payments on account of pupil transportation, for Ready-to-Learn Block Grant and for payment of required contribution for public school employees' Social Security; in construction and renovation of buildings by school entities, further providing for applicability; providing for School Environmental Repairs Program; abrogating a regulation; and making an editorial change.

PA SB817

Providing for FQHC primary care workforce initiative; and making an appropriation.

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