Austin A. Davis 35th Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania Department Of Education
Pennsylvania's Secretary of Human Services, Dr. Val Arkoosh, will visit West Virginia University Medicine at Uniontown Hospital to tour its recently reopened maternity unit. This reopening restores labor and delivery services to the Uniontown community. The visit also serves to emphasize Governor Josh Shapiro's proposed 2025-26 budget, which includes substantial investments aimed at hospitals, maternal health, and the rural healthcare workforce across Pennsylvania.
Governor Shapiro has made addressing maternal health disparities and ensuring access to quality healthcare a priority since assuming office. His 2025-2026 budget proposal allocates $5 million for maternal health initiatives, building on the previous year's bipartisan budget that dedicated $2.6 million for preventing maternal mortality.
The budget proposal also aims to expand the healthcare workforce and ensure rural communities have access to necessary care while helping keep hospitals operational. It includes $10 million in state funds specifically for rural hospitals and an additional $10 million for hospitals statewide. These investments could potentially attract further federal funding to support local healthcare systems.
Key participants in this event include Department of Human Services Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh, WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital President and CEO Carrie Willetts, Medical Director Lawrence Glad, MD from WVU Medicine Children's Birthing Center at Uniontown Hospital, and Clinical Director of Obstetrics Beth LaFrankie, MSN, RNC-NIC.
The event is scheduled for Monday, May 5, 2025, at 10:15 AM at Uniontown Hospital located at 500 W Berkeley Street in Uniontown, PA.
Media personnel interested in attending are required to bring a photo ID and RSVP with their details via email.
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