Butler Memorial Hospital officials in 1997 began considering the future of the hospital's campus on East Brady Street in Butler and Butler Township. Officials have been studying whether to renovate the current facilities or build a new hospital elsewhere, an idea that has met opposition from some members of the public.

Hospitals and health providers in Butler County are slated to receive close to $1.5 million in funds from state House Bill 253.

The bipartisan bill was signed by Gov. Tom Wolf last week to allocate $225 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding to support the health care workforce in Pennsylvania.

According to estimates provided by Neal Lesher, communications and policy director with the Republican House Appropriations Committee, Butler Memorial Hospital will receive $1,016,620, and the Butler UPMC Cranberry Campus will receive $102,491. Allegheny Health Network’s Wexford campus will receive $455,516.

Additionally, MHY Family Services in Mars will receive $175,229, Butler Kids Count Family Psychological Associates will receive $70,092, and the Southwestern Pennsylvania Human Services Care Center Long Term Structured Residence will receive $70,092.

“Throughout the pandemic I have called on Pennsylvanians to make choices that positively impact their loved ones and neighbors,” Wolf said in a statement. “I am proud to stand alongside both Democratic and Republican members who have heard that call and to sign this legislation into law providing necessary funding to the commonwealth’s most critical asset, our health care employees.”

The bill allots $100 million to be distributed to all Pennsylvania acute care, critical access and children’s hospitals licensed by the Department of Health on a per-bed basis. The funding will be used for recruitment and retention payments to direct care staff.

Also, $110 million will be distributed on a per-bed basis to high-Medical Assistance hospitals, designated Critical Access Hospitals, and inpatient and residential behavioral health facilities for recruitment and retention payments to key staff. Additionally, $15 million was set aside for the nurse loan forgiveness program at the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA).

Butler providers benefit

Holly Lorenz, UPMC chief nurse executive, praised the state legislature for addressing the needs of the health care workforce.

“As we await further information from the Department of Human Services about specifics, we applaud the Pennsylvania House and Senate leaders and members of the General Assembly who have committed themselves to addressing the need to recruit and retain our front-line caregivers,” Lorenz wrote.

In a statement, Dr. Donald Whiting, AHN chief medical officer, and Claire Zangerle, AHN chief nurse executive, also applauded state leaders for recognizing health care professionals.

“Words cannot express how incredibly grateful we are to the front-line caregivers within our organization, and across the state and country, for their courage, resilience and unwavering commitment to patients and community service during this unprecedented public health crisis,” the statement said. “Our Pennsylvania state senators and representatives have taken a significant and important step with funding that will help us recognize these true heroes of the pandemic through our staff retention and recruitment efforts.”

Candace Herrington, strategic communications adviser with AHN, said the funds will be allocated across Allegheny Health Network based on the specifications of the legislation.

Amy Smith, MHY Family Services director of development and program advancement, praised state officials for their support.

“We’re quite elated to find out (about the bill),” she said. “We’re very excited about it.”

Lisa Schiller, MHY's executive director, said in a statement that the funds will go toward recruiting and retaining staff, including therapists and treatment specialists.

“MHY has experienced a surge in demand for trauma-based behavioral health care which has created urgency to expand our programs,” Schiller wrote. “We seek passionate individuals who want to make a difference. These funds will help reinforce and reward those who are committed to this work.”

Butler Health System was contacted for this article, but did not respond by press time.

The bill also creates the Opioid Abuse Child Impact Task Force, which will focus on improving the safety, well-being and permanency of substance-exposed infants and other young children affected by their families’ substance abuse disorders.