HARRISBURG — Looking to boost the sagging work force numbers in nursing homes and similar settings around the state, a bipartisan group of senators on Tuesday gave final approval to a bill to increase access to long-term care training courses for nurse aides.

The 31-18 vote came on the 71st day of the state budget impasse in which billions of dollars of payments to entities around Pennsylvania are being held up. In the Capitol Tuesday, there were no press conferences or formal statements issued on the impasse.

As the stalemate continued, senators moved to address the alarming shortage among nursing aides.

Earlier this year, a study conducted by several organizations including the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania found 53% of responding nursing homes had 10 or more o

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