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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | June 30, 2014 09:04 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Matthew E. Baker |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Joint State Government Commission workforce resolution |
| I am introducing a resolution directing the Joint State Government Commission to study health care workforce issues. Hospitals and their workforce contribute to a large part of Pennsylvania’s economy. In 55 of Pennsylvania’s 67 Pennsylvania counties hospitals remain among the top five employers, providing family-sustaining jobs and solid benefits. Unfortunately, Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry data for February 2014 shows hospital employment is down by nearly 4,000 jobs since February 2013. Billions of dollars in federal payment cuts are forcing more than half of Pennsylvania hospitals to either lay off current employees or implement hiring freezes. Flat state revenues are preventing necessary increases in state reimbursements for critical health care services, which negatively impacts the health care workforce providing these services. Furthermore, regulatory constraints at both the state and federal level affect the health care work force. My resolution directs the Joint State Government Commission to study the impact of current state and federal laws, regulations, and funding pressures on health care workforce issues, and to also study the interaction between the health care workforce across the health care continuum and current applications related to access, quality and safety of health care in the Commonwealth. I urge you to join me in sponsoring this resolution so that we may continue to implement best practices and policies in order to maintain hospitals’ vital services to our communities |
Introduced as HR983
Memo Updated: June 30, 2014 09:06 AM