The New York State Health Care Worker Bonus (HWB) program stands as a testament to the state’s commitment to recognizing and rewarding the tireless efforts of its healthcare and mental hygiene workforce. These essential frontline workers have been instrumental in navigating unprecedented public health challenges, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. This initiative aims to not only acknowledge their dedication but also to attract and retain talented individuals within these critical professions.
In a move to bolster the healthcare sector, the Fiscal Year 2023 New York State Executive Budget earmarked $1.2 billion for bonus payments. This substantial funding, detailed within Part ZZ of Chapter 56 of the Laws of 2022, underpins the HWB program’s mission to “recruit, retain, and reward health care and mental hygiene workers” who meet specific eligibility criteria. The bonus amounts are designed to be commensurate with the hours worked by eligible employees during designated vesting periods, with a maximum payout of $3,000 per worker.
Governor Kathy Hochul officially launched this program, underscoring its significance in a press release. To further assist stakeholders, a series of Healthcare Worker Bonus (HWB) Program Town Hall webinars have been conducted to provide detailed guidance and answer queries.
Who are Qualified Employers for the HWB Program?
The scope of qualified employers is broad, encompassing various healthcare providers and institutions across New York State. Eligibility extends to providers with at least one employee who bill for services under the Medicaid state plan or through a home or community-based services (HCBS) waiver. This includes those with provider agreements to bill for Medicaid services via managed care organizations or managed long-term care plans. Certain educational institutions and other funded programs also qualify.
Specifically, the program includes providers, 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), Office for the Aging, Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS), and the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) are also considered qualified employers.
The submission process for bonus claims differs based on whether employers are Medicaid or non-Medicaid providers.
Medicaid Employers: These employers must be actively enrolled and payable through eMedNY, possessing an active MMIS ID to access and submit claims via the HWB Program Portal. Providers not currently enrolled with eMedNY should visit the eMedNY website for enrollment information.
Non-Medicaid Employers: Employers submitting for non-Medicaid employees should utilize their SFS Vendor ID on the HWB Program Portal. Employers with eligible staff not covered under Medicaid workforce bonuses should contact their relevant state agency for specific program details. Agencies overseeing non-Medicaid providers 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.
It’s important to note that the education sector component of the bonus program is scheduled to roll out in October. Medicaid providers who are qualified employers but employ state-paid workers should coordinate through their respective State agency for claim submissions.
Who are Eligible Workers for the New York State Health Care Worker Bonus?
Worker eligibility hinges on meeting specific criteria, primarily being classified as “front line health care and mental hygiene practitioners, technicians, assistants and aides that provide hands on health or care services to individuals”. To be eligible, an employee must work for a qualified employer under a recognized Eligible Worker Title.
Further eligibility requirements for employees include:
- Continuous Employment: Qualified employees must maintain continuous employment with a qualified employer for at least one complete vesting period.
- Eligible Worker Titles: Employees must hold a title listed within the Eligible Worker Titles list provided by the program.
- Annualized Base Salary Limit: Employees must not exceed an annualized base salary of $125,000 (excluding bonuses and overtime). This is confirmed through an Employee Attestation Form, which employees must complete and return to their employer.
- Employment Status: Eligibility is open to full-time, part-time, temporary employees, and independent contractors.
- Medicaid Program Status: Employees must not be suspended or excluded from the Medicaid program during the vesting period.
Understanding the Bonus Requirements and Payment Structure
Qualified employers bear the responsibility of submitting bonus claims on behalf of their eligible employees who meet the program criteria. Employees cannot apply for bonuses independently.
Claim submissions must be made within 30 days after the Department of Health announces a vesting schedule for completed vesting periods, and subsequently within 30 days after each additional vesting period concludes. An employee vests when they have worked for the employer for the entire duration of a vesting period in an Eligible Worker Title.
Upon an employee vesting, employers must provide them with an Employee Attestation Form and ensure its return 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 weekly hours worked by the employee during a 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.
Each qualified employee can be eligible for up to two vesting periods per employer, with a maximum total bonus of $3,000.
Vesting Periods: Key Dates for Eligibility
A vesting period is defined as a consecutive six-month block within the timeframe of October 1, 2021, to March 31, 2024. Employers are required to submit claims for all eligible employees whose 6-month vesting period concludes within the defined vesting period windows outlined below:
| VestingPeriod | 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 complete Vesting Period Schedule is also available for download in PDF format.
Penalties for Non-Compliance with HWB Program
To ensure program integrity, penalties are in place for qualified employers who fail to adhere to the HWB Program guidelines. Employers who do not 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.
The Office of the Medicaid Inspector General (OMIG) will conduct audits on payments disbursed by eMedNY to verify the appropriate claiming and distribution of funds.
Employer Submission Process: Claiming Bonuses for Employees
It is crucial to reiterate that employees cannot claim bonuses directly. Qualified employers must initiate and complete the claim submission process on behalf of their eligible employees.
To begin, employers need to create an account on the HWB Program Portal using a valid MMIS ID. Enrollment opened on Wednesday, August 3, 2022. Non-Medicaid employers will use their SFS Vendor ID to submit claims via the same portal.
Once enrolled, employers have two options for submitting employee data:
- Bulk Data Submissions: Download a submission template for efficient bulk uploading of employee information.
- Manual Entry: Submit employee data manually through the portal interface.
Detailed instructions are provided in the Technical Portal Guide, accessible on the HWB Program Portal.
Comprehensive List of Eligible Worker Titles
The HWB program covers a wide range of worker titles, categorized into Frontline Direct Care Health and Mental Hygiene Workers, All Other Health Care Support Workers, and Titles Determined by the Commissioner. These titles encompass roles that provide hands-on assistance in health or care services, either clinical or non-clinical. Frontline workers are defined as those who directly provide or support health or care services to patients in specific settings, under the titles listed in the statute. These titles align with 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 Regarding “All Other Health Care Support Workers”: This category includes workers with titles similar to those explicitly listed in the statute, who support patient care in frontline settings. These roles must directly support patient-facing care within a patient care unit of a hospital or similar institutional medical setting, 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 to include additional 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 |
Accessing Further Information and Support
For more comprehensive details about the New York State Health Care Worker Bonus Program, please visit the official HWB Program Portal. For direct assistance, you can contact the Health Care Worker Bonus (HWB) Call Center at (866) 682-0077.
The New York State Health Care Worker Bonus program is a crucial initiative to support and appreciate the invaluable contributions of healthcare workers. By understanding the eligibility criteria, bonus structure, and application process, both employers and employees can effectively participate in this program and ensure that deserving frontline heroes receive the recognition they deserve.
