UNIONTOWN — Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh recently toured the newly opened WVU Medicine Children’s Birthing Center at Uniontown Hospital, which brings labor and delivery services back to Fayette County and the surrounding area. While there, Secretary Arkoosh highlighted Gov. Josh Shapiro’s common-sense, strategic investments in the 2025-26 proposed budget to expand maternal health services and alleviate ongoing workforce recruitment challenges facing many rural hospitals by continuing to invest in rural health systems.

“Everyone deserves access to high-quality, supportive and accessible care before, during and following their birthing experience. Timely, comprehensive and trusted pre- and postnatal care make a big difference in the overall health of both parents and newborns, but we know that when people do not have access to healthcare locally, it can be a significant barrier to healthy outcomes,” Arkoosh said. “The reopening of Uniontown Hospital’s birthing center is a shining example of progress being made in our rural communities to support growing families and ensure that no matter where people live in the commonwealth, they benefit from a stable healthcare presence in their community. The Shapiro Administration is committed to being a partner as communities and healthcare providers work to improve access to high quality maternity care for all, including in our rural communities.”

In an effort to build on support for Pennsylvania’s rural healthcare providers, Shapiro’s 2025-26 budget proposal makes common- sense, strategic investments including:

■ $10 million for rural hospitals to leverage an additional $25.1 million in federal matching funds, bringing total support to $35.1 million. This builds off work started with the 2024-25 budget that invested a total of $36.7 million in state and federal funding to support hospitals in rural communities.

■ An additional $10 million to invest in healthcare facilities statewide, through the Department of Human Services, to assist the commonwealth in responding to urgent consumer health needs and staffing requirements. This investment will also leverage an additional $25.1 million in federal matching funds, bringing total support to $35.1 million.

■ $10 million to expand behavioral health loan repayment programs, ensuring providers are available statewide – including in rural communities – to meet the growing demand for mental healthcare and address a critical workforce shortage.

■ $5 million to expand the Primary Care Loan Repayment Program offering loan repayment for healthcare providers who serve in rural communities.

■ $20 million in a new dedicated appropriation to healthcare facilities for patient safety and quality improvement initiatives that reduce barriers to care, like affordability and transportation, and improve reliable access to needed providers.

■ $5 million to educate, train and recruit nursing professionals through tuition support, ensuring a steady pipeline of highly trained professionals.

■ Enhancing postpartum depression screening and intervention efforts to ensure timely and equitable access to maternal and mental healthcare for mothers.

■ Encouraging legislation to grant full practice authority to nurse practitioners who have worked under a physician for three years, increasing access to care in underserved communities.