Marcus Delgado, Deputy Secretary of Administration | Pennsylvania Department Of Education
Officials from the Shapiro Administration are set to meet with rural health care leaders at Wayne Memorial Hospital to discuss the potential negative effects of proposed federal Medicaid cuts. These cuts could significantly impact rural health care providers and residents across Pennsylvania.
The proposed federal funding reductions may threaten health coverage for over 300,000 Pennsylvanians. This situation could lead to increased health care costs and put hospitals, particularly those in rural areas, at risk of closure. The loss of coverage might cause Pennsylvanians to delay necessary medical treatments, potentially increasing medical expenses over time.
Governor Josh Shapiro has emphasized that ensuring access to quality health care for rural Pennsylvanians is a priority. His proposed budget for 2025-26 includes investments aimed at keeping rural hospitals operational and attracting more high-quality professionals to these facilities.
The event will feature several key figures: Department of Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen, Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Michael Humphreys, Department of Human Services Special Advisor Sara Goulet, Wayne Memorial Hospital CEO Jim Pettinato, Wayne Memorial Community Health Centers Chief Quality Officer Kara Poremba, and Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania CEO Nicole Stallings.
The meeting is scheduled for Friday, June 27 at 11:00 AM in the David Katz Conference Room on the second floor of Wayne Memorial Hospital located at 601 Park Street in Honesdale, PA. Media personnel interested in attending must RSVP by contacting ra-dhpressoffice@pa.gov with their details.
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