Student loan repayment for rural health care workers clears legislative hurdle

(The Center Square) – Student loan repayment for healthcare workers willing to take up positions in rural communities is one step closer after clearing Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives.

House Bill 157 would give up to $250,000 in individual grants to rural medical institutions. Those institutions would then put the money toward student debt for eligible staff, including physicians, nurses, midwives, dentists, and dental hygienists.

“Our rural communities continue to face a health care crisis,” said the bill’s prime sponsor, Rep. Kathy Rapp, R-Warren. “Rural health centers and hospitals are struggling to keep their doors open because of difficulties in recruiting providers.”

In order to receive the money, medical professionals would be expected to maintain their role for a minimum of three years. Lawmakers are hopeful that by incentivizing healthcare workers to take on these positions, they’ll be inspired to pursue much longer careers in rural health.

Currently, nursing support staff and registered nurse vacancies in rural hospitals are at 28% and 26% respectively, leaving hospitals and other facilities to operate with a fraction of the workforce they need. Such strained conditions cause burnout, which leads to attrition and exacerbates the problem.

Rapp called the proposal a “win-win” for professionals and health centers, emphasizing the impact health care access has on a community overall. When people are forced to travel, they often skip both preventative exams and needed procedures. When they do make it out to distant centers, they face travel expenses and time lost at work.

Maternity deserts have drawn particular attention, with seven of the state’s counties going without labor and delivery units. Almost half of women within the state are 30 minutes or more from a birthing center. A recent decision to end labor and delivery services at UPMC Cole in Coudersport sent shockwaves through the commonwealth.

Concern about the state’s rural communities hasn’t been limited to local representatives. Gov. Josh Shapiro has made the rural healthcare crisis a priority for his 2025-2026 budget, while Appropriations chair Rep. Jordan Harris, D-Philadelphia zeroed in on the impact Medicaid cuts would have to already struggling rural hospitals.

The bipartisan bill put forward by the co-chairs of the House Healthcare committee passed with a resounding 194-8 vote. This is a major step forward after the same bill last year died on the House floor. It will now move to the Senate for consideration.