 | | | |  | | Capitol Update | | Friday, March 14, 2025 | The latest news from the State Capitol | Please do not reply directly to this email, as it returns to an unmanned account.
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Talking Rural Health Care in Kane
Thank you to UPMC Kane officials for welcoming me to the hospital this week to talk about rural health care and the great work they are doing to meet patient needs in the area. I was especially impressed by their enthusiasm for the people and communities they serve and how they use that enthusiasm to help recruit physicians to their facility. We also talked about the challenges facing rural health care, limited access to services including labor and delivery, and the use of telemedicine to keep access in the region. Pictured with me from left: Mark Papalia, UPMC Kane president; Hannah Ross, director of operations; and John Papalia, executive director of the Kane Community Hospital Foundation.
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Working to Support Rural EMS
Thank you to everyone who came out to our EMS Task Force meeting on Wednesday as we continue our efforts to address the state’s growing EMS crisis.
We talked about some policies proposed at the state level to address financial and recruitment challenges facing EMS providers. I have introduced bills that would ensure proper reimbursement from Medicaid when treatment is provided but the patient is not transported to the hospital (House Bill 857); and simplify and streamline the process of recertification for emergency medical responders and emergency medical technicians whose certifications have expired (House Bill 73). We also discussed elevating the state office of EMS to a cabinet-level position to better reflect the importance of this public service, and the need for additional local government support to meet the cost of readiness.
We also heard from our area emergency services directors, as well as from EMS West officials and the Ambulance Association of Pennsylvania about their efforts. The bottom line is, we are making progress but the work continues.
With all of the health care challenges we face in rural Pennsylvania, ensuring the sustainability of our emergency medical services system is more important than ever. I want to thank everyone who serves in this vital role. You are greatly appreciated!
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Thank You, Sally Scrivo
At this week’s EMS Task Force meeting, we took the opportunity to honor Sally Scrivo, who has devoted herself to serving our region as an emergency medical technician and EMS instructor for many years. She has provided quality patient care through the recently closed Bradford Area Transport Service while also serving as an exemplary volunteer with Derrick City Volunteer Fire Department. Thank you, Sally, for your ongoing service to our community.
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Maple Weekend is Here!
Looking for something sweet to do this weekend? Check out the annual Maple Weekend tomorrow and Sunday, March 15-16, at more than a dozen different maple producers in Potter and Tioga counties.
You’ll find a variety of opportunities at each location to learn more about the process of collecting sap and making maple syrup and other products, as well as the chance to sample or purchase a wide range of products, including syrup and maple candy, and more unique maple products such as salad dressing, barbecue sauce, jellies, homemade cookies, maple milkshakes and cotton candy. Click here for details about this educational – and very tasty! – event.
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Embrace Efforts to Right-Size Government
Last week, Gov. Josh Shapiro issued an executive order regarding the state civil service system, inviting federal employees who were let go by the Trump administration to come to work in the Commonwealth.
Given the exorbitant growth in spending we’ve seen in Shapiro’s state budgets, the last thing he should be doing is trying to grow our government even further. Rather than automatically fill any vacancy, each open position should be reviewed to determine if it is even necessary to fill.
We should also be encouraging these former federal employees to put their skills to work in the private sector, as many businesses continue to face significant hiring challenges and many in-demand jobs are going unfilled due to workforce shortages.
Let’s work together to right-size our government.
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Grow PA Scholarship Grant Program Applications Open
The Grow PA Scholarship Grant Program, administered by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA), is now open!
There are over 460 eligible programs of study or majors that lead to in-demand occupations in a variety of fields, such as agriculture, business, education, computer science, STEM, nursing, allied health and criminal justice.
For details about the program and eligibility, click here.
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Application Deadline Approaching for 2025 Pennsylvania House Scholarship
High school seniors interested in receiving financial assistance to help pay for college still have time to apply for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives’ Scholarship. The deadline is April 15.
Each year the program awards a four-year scholarship to two students preparing for post-secondary education. It is open to graduating high school seniors who are Pennsylvania residents with plans to attend a Pennsylvania college, university or career school as a full-time student.
To qualify, students must have attained a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average in high school. Other factors taken into consideration for the awards are a student’s commitment to community, leadership qualities, extracurricular activities and financial need.
The scholarship program is administered through the Foundation for Enhancing Communities. Click here for more information and an application.
The scholarship is privately funded by individual and corporate donors; no tax or other public funds are used. Scholarships are awarded through an independent panel of judges chosen by the foundation.
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PennDOT Wants to Know Your Feedback on Transportation Projects
Recognizing the importance of a safe, reliable and efficient transportation system, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is inviting residents to review and comment on the agency’s 12-Year Transportation Program.
Public comments can be submitted through the department’s transportation survey until Wednesday, April 30. PennDOT will also host an online public forum about the plan on Thursday, April 10, from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Further details are available here.
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PA ABLE Helps Save for Disability-Related Expenses
The PA ABLE Savings Program, an initiative created to help people with disabilities and their families save for future expenses, continues to grow in the Commonwealth. The Pennsylvania Treasury, which oversees the program, recently announced it has surpassed $150 million in assets.
ABLE stands for Achieving a Better Life Experience. The program offers multiple savings and investment options, including an interest-bearing checking account. PA ABLE accounts owners can contribute up to $19,000 per year. Contributions can be deducted on PA state income taxes, and PA ABLE account owners pay no federal or state income tax on account growth when used for qualified withdrawals.
The money can be used for everything from groceries, rent, health care and transportation to longer-term expenses including education and assistive technology.
Learn more at www.PAABLE.gov.
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March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
Colorectal cancer is the second deadliest cancer in the United States despite it being highly preventable with screening.
One in 24 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in their lifetime, according to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports the most effective way to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer is routine screening, beginning at age 45, for people who are at average risk.
Screening tests can find precancerous polyps so they can be removed before they turn into cancer. Colorectal cancer can also be found early by the screenings, when treatment is most effective.
You can find more resources about early and regular screenings here. There are various types of screening tests available; talk to your doctor about which test is right for you. To prepare yourself for a conversation with your physician, a helpful collection of information supplied by the CDC can be found here.
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| | | | Office Locations | | 78 Main Street, 1st Floor, Bradford, PA 16701 | Phone: 814-362-4400 | Toll-Free: 1-866-437-8181 | | 107 South Main Street, Room 1, Coudersport, PA 16915 | Phone: 814-274-9769 | FAX: 814-274-3631 | | 54 North Fraley St., Kane, PA 16735 | 814-837-0880 | | 147 Main Capitol, House Box 202067, Harrisburg, PA 17120-2067 | Phone: 717-787-5075 | | Email: mcauser@pahousegop.com | | TTY: 855-282-0614 |
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