Lancaster County health care organizations will receive a little under $6.6 million of the $225 million in pandemic relief funds that Pennsylvania is distributing for hiring and retention payments to nurses and other frontline health employees.
In all, 15 Lancaster Counties are receiving the funding, according to a spreadsheet provided by the Department of Human Services. They include the county's three acute-care hospitals and a dozen inpatient behavioral health facilities.
The final amounts differ somewhat from preliminary figures provided when the bill authorizing the distribution was signed into law.
Payments come from two pools of money: $100 million for hospitals in general; and $110 million for behavioral health facilities and hospitals designated as "critical access" or that serve a high proportion of Medical Assistance patients.
The state allocated another $15 million to expand its nurse loan forgiveness program. All $225 million came from American Rescue Plan Act funding.
“This funding will allow health care centers and individuals to start to rebuild from the ongoing financial effects of the pandemic and recruit and retain staff who are vital to keeping our communities healthy and safe," DHS acting Secretary Meg Snead said in a statement.
