Important Notice Regarding Adjustments to Past Vesting Period Data
Employers now have the ability to rectify underpaid bonuses, ranging from $0.00 to $1000.00. This feature is designed to address situations where employers believe a bonus payment was incorrectly low. The correction process allows for adjustments to the initially recorded salary or average weekly hours worked for any employee who was underpaid.
For detailed information on how to return overpayments of Health Care Worker Bonus (HWB) funds to the State, please refer to: Self-Disclosure of Health Care Worker Bonus Payments | Office of the Medicaid Inspector General.
Understanding the Health Care Worker Bonus Program
Honoring New York’s Healthcare Heroes
New York State’s frontline health care and mental hygiene workers have been instrumental in navigating an unprecedented public health crisis. Their dedication and tireless efforts have positioned New York as a leading example in the fight against COVID-19.
Recognizing the immense pressure on this workforce, and to both attract new talent and retain the dedicated professionals who have worked tirelessly over the past two years, New York State has launched the Health Care Worker Bonus (HWB) Program. This initiative financially rewards these essential workers for their extraordinary service. As part of the Fiscal Year 2023 New York State Executive Budget, a significant investment of $1.2 billion has been allocated to fund these crucial bonus payments for frontline healthcare workers.
The Health Care Worker Bonus (HWB) program, detailed in Part ZZ of Chapter 56 of the Laws of 2022, is specifically designed to “recruit, retain, and reward health care and mental hygiene workers” who meet defined eligibility criteria. The bonus amounts are structured to reflect the number of hours worked by eligible employees during specific vesting periods, with a maximum bonus payout of $3,000 per worker.
For the official announcement, please visit: Governor Hochul Launches Health Care Worker Bonus Program.
Stay Informed: Healthcare Worker Bonus (HWB) Program Town Hall Webinar Series
Who are Qualified Employers?
The Health Care Worker Bonus program defines qualified employers broadly to encompass a range of healthcare providers and institutions. This includes providers who bill for services under the Medicaid state plan or through a home or community-based services (HCBS) waiver. It also extends to providers with agreements to bill for Medicaid services via managed care organizations or managed long-term care plans. Certain educational institutions and other funded programs are also included.
Specifically, qualified employers include facilities, pharmacies, and school-based health centers licensed under the state Public Health Law, Mental Hygiene Law, and Education Law. Programs funded by the Office of Mental Health (OMH), the Office for the Aging, the Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS), and the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) are also considered qualified employers under this program.
The submission process for bonus claims varies depending on whether the employer is a Medicaid or non-Medicaid provider.
Medicaid Employers: To participate, Medicaid employers must be actively enrolled and payable through eMedNY and possess a valid MMIS ID. This is necessary to access and submit claims through the HWB Program Portal. Providers not yet enrolled with eMedNY can find enrollment information on the eMedNY website.
Non-Medicaid Employers: Employers submitting claims for non-Medicaid employees should use their SFS Vendor ID to access the HWB Program Portal. Employers with eligible staff who are not covered under Medicaid workforce bonuses should contact their relevant state agency for specific program details. Agencies overseeing providers in this category (Non-Medicaid) may include the Office of Mental Health, Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, Office of Children and Family Services, and the Office of Addiction Services and Supports.
The bonus program for the education sector is scheduled to launch in October.
Medicaid providers who are qualified employers but employ state-paid workers should coordinate their bonus claims through their respective State agency.
Who are Eligible Workers?
To be eligible for the Health Care Worker Bonus, employees must be “front line health care and mental hygiene practitioners, technicians, assistants and aides that provide hands on health or care services to individuals”. Eligibility hinges on working for a qualified employer (as defined above) and holding a position listed under Eligible Worker Titles.
Specific eligibility criteria for employees include:
- Continuous Employment: Employees must have been continuously employed by a qualified employer for at least one full vesting period (refer to vesting periods below).
- Eligible Worker Title: The employee’s job title must be included in the official list of Eligible Worker Titles.
- Annualized Base Salary Limit: Employees must not have exceeded an annualized base salary of $125,000 (excluding bonuses and overtime pay). This must be confirmed through an Employee Attestation Form, which employees need to complete and return to their employer.
- Employment Status: Eligibility is open to full-time, part-time, temporary employees, and independent contractors.
- Medicaid Exclusion: Employees must not be suspended or excluded from the Medicaid program during the vesting period.
Understanding Bonus Requirements
Qualified employers are responsible for submitting bonus claims for their eligible employees who meet all the program criteria. Employees cannot apply for bonuses independently.
Claims submission deadlines are crucial: employers must submit claims within 30 days after the Department of Health announces the vesting schedule for a completed vesting period. Subsequent claims must be submitted within 30 days after each subsequent vesting period concludes. An employee is considered vested if they have worked for the entire duration of a vesting period in an Eligible Worker Title.
Upon an employee vesting, employers are required to provide them with an Employee Attestation Form. This form needs to be returned to the employer before the claim submission deadline (30 days post-vesting).
Employers are mandated to pay the bonuses to eligible employees within 30 days of receiving the bonus funds from the state.
Bonus amounts are calculated based on the average hours worked per week during the vesting period:
- $500 Bonus: For employees working at least 20 hours but no more than 30 hours per week.
- $1,000 Bonus: For employees working at least 30 hours but no more than 35 hours per week.
- $1,500 Bonus: For employees working at least 35 hours per week.
Importantly, an employee can qualify for bonuses for up to two vesting periods per employer. The maximum total bonus an employee can receive is $3,000.
Vesting Period Schedule
A vesting period is defined as a continuous six-month block within the timeframe of October 1, 2021, to March 31, 2024. Employers will submit claims for all eligible employees whose 6-month vesting period concludes within the defined vesting period windows outlined below.
| Vesting Period | Vesting Period Start Date | Vesting Period End Date | Employer Submission Start Date | Employer Submission Close Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| One | October 1, 2021 | March 31, 2022 | August 3, 2022 | September 2, 2022 |
| Two | April 1, 2022 | September 30, 2022 | October 1, 2022 | November 30, 2022 |
| Three | October 1, 2022 | March 31, 2023 | April 1, 2023 | May 1, 2023 |
| Four | April 1, 2023 | September 30, 2023 | October 1, 2023 | October 31, 2023 |
| Five | October 1, 2023 | March 31, 2024 | April 1, 2024 | May 1, 2024 |
The Vesting Period Schedule is also available for download in PDF format.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
To ensure program integrity, penalties are in place for non-compliant employers. Qualified employers who fail to identify, claim, and/or pay bonuses for more than 10 percent of their bonus-eligible workforce may face penalties up to $1,000 per violation of the HWB Program requirements.
The Office of the Medicaid Inspector General (OMIG) will conduct audits of payments processed by eMedNY to verify that funds were appropriately claimed and distributed according to program guidelines.
Employer Claim Submission Process
It is critical to note that qualified employers are responsible for initiating and submitting bonus claims on behalf of their employees. Employees cannot claim bonuses directly. A complete claim submission requires the following attestations:
Employers must first create an account on the HWB Program Portal using a valid MMIS ID. Enrollment is open from Wednesday, August 3, 2022. For employers submitting claims for non-Medicaid employees, the HWB Program Portal should be accessed using their SFS Vendor ID.
Once enrolled, employers have two options for submitting claims:
- Bulk Data Submission: Download a submission template for efficient bulk data uploads.
- Manual Entry: Choose to submit claims individually through manual data entry on the portal.
Detailed instructions are available in the Technical Portal Guide, accessible on the HWB Program Portal.
Comprehensive List of Eligible Worker Titles
Eligible worker titles for the Health Care Worker Bonus program encompass frontline workers who provide direct, hands-on assistance with health services (clinical roles) or care services (non-clinical roles). These roles must directly support or provide health or care services to patients in specific settings and align with the titles listed in the program statute. These eligible titles are derived from SOS § 367-w(2)(a)(i) and (ii), mirroring titles from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) job listings and the State’s Consolidated Fiscal Reporting and Claiming (CFR) manual, or are authorized under SOS § 367-w(2)(a)(iii).
Important Note on “All Other Health Care Support Workers”: This category includes roles similar to the specifically listed titles that are essential in supporting patient care in frontline settings. These workers must provide support within a patient care unit of a hospital or similar institutional medical environment, directly contributing to patient treatment and care.
On November 17, 2022, the New York State Department of Health announced an expansion of the Healthcare Worker Bonus (HWB) Program, adding more titles and eligible provider types. Further details are available on the HWB Program Expansion Notice page.
Full List of Eligible Worker Titles:
| Frontline Direct Care Health and Mental Hygiene Workers | All Other Health Care Support Workers | Titles Determined by the Commissioner |
|---|---|---|
| – Assistant Program or Assistant Site Director – Case Manager – Certified First Responders – Certified Recovery Peer Advocate – Clinical Coordinator – Counselor – Alcoholism and Substance Abuse (CASAC) – Counseling Aide/Assistant – Alcoholism and Substance Abuse – Counselor – Rehabilitation – Dental Hygienists – Dental Assistants – Diagnostic Medical Sonographers – Dietician/Nutritionist – Exercise Physiologists – Intake/Screening – Licensed Mental Health Counselor (OASAS) – Licensed Mental Health Counselor (OCFS) – Medical Assistants – Mental Hygiene – Behavior Intervention Specialist 1 – Behavior Intervention Specialist 2 – Counselor – Crisis Prevention Specialist – Developmental Disabilities Specialist QIDP-Direct Care – Developmental Disabilities Specialist/Habilitation Specialist QIDP-Clinical – Early Recognition Specialist – Intensive Case Manager – Intensive Case Manager/Coordinator – Job Coach/Employment Specialist – Licensed Psychoanalyst – Licensed Mental Health Counselor – Manager – Peer Specialist – Residential Treatment Facility (RTF)Transition Coordinator – Senior Counselor – Supervisor – Mental Hygiene Worker – Nurses – Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse – Licensed Practical Nurse – Nurse Anesthetist – Nurse Midwives – Nurse Practitioner – Nurse Practitioner/Nursing Supervisor – Nurse’s Aide/Medical Aide – Nursing Assistants – Registered Nurse – Orderlies – Orthotist – Other Clinical Staff/Assistants – Other Direct Care Staff – Paramedic – Peer Professional-Non-CRPA (OASAS Only) – Pharmacist – Pharmacy Technician – Phlebotomist – Physician Assistant – Program or Site Director – Prosthetist – Psychiatric Aide – Psychologist (Licensed) – Psychologist (Master’s Level)/Behavioral Specialist – Psychology Worker/Other Behavioral Worker – Residence/Site Worker – Social Worker-Licensed (LMSW, LCSW) – Social Worker-Master’s Level (MSW) – Speech-Language Pathologist – Therapists – Activity/Creative Arts Therapist – Marriage and Family Counselor/Therapist – Occupational Therapist – Occupational Therapy Assistant – Occupational Therapy Aide – Physical Therapist – Physical Therapy Assistant – Physical Therapy Aides – Radiation Therapist – Recreational Therapist – Respiratory Therapist – Speech Therapist – All Other Therapists – Technologists and Technicians – Advanced Emergency Medical Technician – Cardiovascular Technologists and Technician – Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technician – Dietetic Technician – Emergency Medical Technician – Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist – Nuclear Medicine Technologist – Ophthalmic Medical Technician – Radiologic Technologist – Surgical Technologist – All Other Health Technologists and Technicians – Therapy Assistant/Activity Assistant | – Building Attendant – Building Service Aide – Building Service Worker – Clerks – Admitting Clerk – Admitting Clerk Cashier – Critical Care Clerk – Discharge Control Clerk – Emergency Services Clerk – Front Desk Clerk – Operating Room Clerk – Registration Clerk – Unit Clerk – Ward Clerk – Custodian – Dietary Aide – Dietary Worker – Dining Assistant – Dining Aide – Environmental Service Aide/Tech – Environmental Services Worker – Floor Maintenance Worker – Food & Nutrition Aide – Food Prep/Service Worker – Housekeeping Worker and Maid – Lead Intake Specialist – Maintenance/Physical Plant workers – Peace Officer – Sanitation Worker – Security Guard – Service Worker – Support Services Worker – Unit Assistant – Unit Associate – Unit Coordinator – Unit Receptionist – Unit Secretary | – Medical Fellow – Medical Resident |
Need More Information?
For further details, please visit the HWB Program Portal or contact the Health Care Worker Bonus (HWB) Call Center at (866) 682-0077.
