PA HB271

Creates the Distressed Hospital Grant Program within the Department of Health with $100,000,000 appropriated from the General Fund to provide grants to financially struggling hospitals

Eligible hospitals must have had negative profit margins for at least three consecutive years and be located more than 25 miles from another Pennsylvania hospital

Priority for grants goes to hospitals that have notified the department of planned service reductions or closures, hospitals in designated medically underserved areas, and hospitals in rural counties (population density less than 291 people per square mile)

Grant recipients must certify they will remain operational for two years, use funds only to prevent service reductions or closures, and cannot use grant money for executive or administrative staff compensation

Department must process applications within 60 days, distribute funds within 60 days of approval, and publish annual reports on grant awards through December 31, 2029