Harrisburg, PA – Governor Josh Shapiro and Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) Secretary Dr. Latika Davis-Jones recently highlighted efforts to solve Pennsylvania’s rural health care workforce shortage during a visit to Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital in Bradford County.
Governor Shapiro’s 2025-2026 proposed budget targets investments to expand the health care workforce, ensure rural communities have access to care, and help keep hospitals open. It includes $10 million to support rural hospitals facing service cuts or closures and expands loan repayment programs for health care workers through the Department of Health, similar to the successful substance use disorder (SUD) loan repayment program at DDAP.
Watch the full video of the visit on PAcast where state Treasurer Stacy Garrity and Republican legislators, Senator Gene Yaw, and Representative Tina Pickett also spoke.
Read what Guthrie’s CEO is saying about the Administration’s work to solve the health care worker shortage in the rural health care space:
Dr. Edmund Sabanegh, President and CEO of The Guthrie Clinic: “That’s why investments such as Gov. Shapiro’s proposed Nursing Shortage Assistance Program are so critical. This program will add new nurses to Pennsylvania’s workforce, saving significant costs by reducing staffing turnover and creating stability in Pennsylvania’s rural hospitals. At the same time, this initiative will increase access to quality education and support sustainable enrollment growth to support the current and future healthcare needs of Pennsylvanians.”
Read more in The Bradford Era: Addressing Pa.'s nursing shortage to support rural health care | Opinion
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