Pickett Votes ‘Yes’ on Bill to Improve Health Care in Pennsylvania’s Rural Communities

March 21, 2025

HARRISBURG – Legislation that would improve health care access in Pennsylvania’s rural communities passed overwhelmingly this week in the House of Representatives with the strong support of Rep. Tina Pickett (R-Bradford/Wyoming), who is one of the bill’s co-sponsors. 

House Bill 157 would create the Rural Health Care Grant Program, which would allow specified facilities, including rural hospitals, to help certain health care providers in paying off their student loans.

“We believe this grant program will help to resolve the current shortage of health care professionals at our rural hospitals and improve access to care in the Northern Tier and other similar communities statewide,” said Pickett. “The idea is to offer a financial incentive for doctors and nurses to work at facilities in areas that are experiencing staffing challenges.”

Under the proposal, hospitals in rural counties or in designated medically underserved areas may apply for grants from the Department of Health to assist with the hiring of health care practitioners at their facility. The hospitals may then use this funding to incentivize doctors and nurses to apply for open positions, as the money from the grant will assist in paying off their student loans. 
 
To be eligible to receive grant dollars, the health care professional will be required to begin practicing at a rural hospital 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 work in the hospital for a minimum of three years.

House Bill 157 will next be considered by the Senate. 


Representative Tina Pickett
110th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Andy Briggs
717-260-6474
abriggs@pahousegop.com
RepPickett.com / Facebook.com/RepPickett