Rural Healthcare

Pennsylvania received $193 million this year from the federal government’s Rural Health Transformation Program - but state health leaders worry that money won’t be enough to fill the financial gaps rural health systems already face. This week, WVIA's Sarah Scinto and healthcare reporter Lydia McFarlane discuss what leaders think Pennsylvania needs and what the state is doing with the money it’s getting.

MCTA, popularly known as the "Pocono Pony," recently broke ground on its new $32 million Wayne P. Mazur Sr. Bus Depot. Named for one of the agency's founding board members, the 44,000-square-foot bus depot in Swiftwater will mark the largest expansion in Pocono Pony’s 47-year history, officials said.

Pennsylvania received $193 million this year from the Rural Health Transformation Program. But the state’s rural health leaders worry that the money isn’t enough.

Pennsylvania received $193 million this year from the Rural Health Transformation Program, which will inject $50 billion over five years to the states. But the state’s rural health leaders worry that the money won’t be enough to fill the financial gaps rural health systems already face and the ones to come with Medicaid changes slated to start in 2027.

The Senate Majority Policy Committee, chaired by state Sen. Dave Argall (R-Schuylkill County), convened a public hearing at Benco Dental in Luzerne County to discuss dental workforce shortages and their impact on the state's health.

This week, WVIA's Sarah Scinto and healthcare reporter Lydia McFarlane talk about a recent study from the Center for Rural Pennsylvania which found 23 of the state's 67 counties do not have a hospital with a labor and delivery unit.

Lehigh Valley Health Network, part of Jefferson Health, opened Lehigh Valley Hospital- Pocono Creek in January. The hospital is located in Bartonsville, Monroe County.

The Northeast Regional Crisis Stabilization Center opened its walk-in service in December. Now, its crisis residential program is open and ready to serve the community with eight beds where people can stay for up to 10 days.

The congressional campaign between Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti and congressman Rob Bresnahan is heating up.The day after she found out she would be the only Democrat on the ballot, Cognetti took shots at Bresnahan over his stock trades.

Según el Centro para las comunidades de parto de Pensilvania, 23 de los 67 condados de Pensilvania no cuentan con un hospital que ofrezca servicios de parto y alumbramiento y los 23 condados están clasificados por el Centro como comunidades rurales.