State Rep. Kathy Rapp | Pennsylvania 65th Legislative District
State Rep. Kathy Rapp | Pennsylvania 65th Legislative District
Rep. Kathy L. Rapp (R-Warren/Crawford/Forest), Republican chair of the House Health Committee, announced today that her bill to provide financial incentives for recruiting rural health care providers has passed the House Health Committee. House Bill 2382 aims to establish the Rural Health Care Grant Program, enabling rural hospitals to assist certain providers in repaying their student loans.
“Our rural communities are facing a health care crisis,” Rapp said. “Rural health centers and hospitals are struggling to keep their doors open because of difficulties in recruiting providers. The Rural Health Care Grant Program is a win-win. It helps hospitals bring in skilled workers and helps the providers by covering some of their high student loan costs. Ultimately, the real winners will be our rural communities, which will hopefully have fully staffed teams ready to care for residents.”
To qualify for grant funds under House Bill 2382, licensed nurses, physicians, or midwives must start practicing at a rural hospital, Federal Qualified Health Center (FQHC), rural health clinic, or birth center within six months of accepting a position; be classified as full-time by working 30 hours or more per week or 130 hours per month; and commit to working at the facility for at least three years.
The measure now advances to the full House for consideration.
Representative Kathy Rapp
65th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jake Gillespie
717-772-9834
RepRapp.com / Facebook.com/RepRapp
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