Lawmakers examine threats to community hospitals
Policy Committee hears testimony on access, rising costs
Policy Committee February 11, 2026 | 12:23 PM
SCRANTON, Feb. 11 – Pennsylvania’s health care system is facing growing strain, putting the future of many community hospitals at risk, according to testimony at a House Majority Policy Committee hearing. Rising costs, workforce shortages, and the impending expiration of federal Affordable Care Act tax credits could leave more workers and families uninsured, further destabilizing local hospitals and the state’s economy.
“Access to care is one of the most fundamental promises we make to our constituents, yet for far too many Pennsylvanians – especially those in rural communities – that promise feels increasingly out of reach,” said hearing co-host state Rep. Bridget Kosierowski, who represents portions of Lackawanna County and spent more than 25 years as a registered nurse. “When hospitals close, when primary care providers are miles away, and when wait times stretch into weeks or months, people often delay care until an otherwise minor problem becomes a crisis.”
The Pennsylvania House Northeast Delegation and state Reps. Kosierowski, Kyle Mullins and Kyle Donahue co-hosted the hearing.
“Skyrocketing health care costs and federal cuts to Medicaid are forcing more people to go without coverage, and a massive number of people in our community are not receiving the care they need,” said Mullins, who represents portions of Lackawanna County. “Additionally, we’re only now emerging from the disastrous experiment of for-profit hospitals. Our residents deserve a health care system focused on patients, not profits.”
A recording of the livestream can be found here.
“Since 2004, more than 30 community hospitals have closed across the state while dozens of others have eliminated essential services,” said Donahue, who represents portions of Lackawanna County. “This crisis isn’t theoretical. It’s happening in our communities right now.”
The University of Scranton hosted the hearing at Edward R. Leahy Jr. Hall’s Kane Forum.
“Chaos in Washington has real consequences,” said House Majority Policy Committee Chairman state Rep. Ryan Bizzarro, who represents portions of Erie County. “The decisions made in D.C. will result in fewer people having access to health care, and for others the cost of health care will be greater than ever before. This will only compound the pressures on our local hospitals, because – as we heard today – when coverage declines the financial strains on hospitals increase.”
Wednesday’s House Majority Policy hearing featured testimony from Dr. Patrick Conaboy, the chief medical officer at Commonwealth Health Regional Hospital of Scranton and Moses Taylor Hospital; Jill Avery-Stoss, the president and CEO of The Institute; Maria Montoro Edwards, the president and CEO of Maternal and Family Services Manager; Jennifer Huber, a registered nurse from Geisinger Community Medical Center and a member of PASNAP; and Sue Wiggins, a medical laboratory technologist and a member of SEIU.
Information about this hearing and other House Majority Policy Committee hearings can be found at pahouse.com/policy. Photos to be used for publication can be found on the day of the hearing at Facebook.com/PADemPolicy.