Important Updates on Historical Vesting Period Data Corrections
For employers who identified underpaid bonuses ranging from $0.00 to $1000.00, a correction feature is available to adjust previously awarded amounts. This process allows for modifications to recorded salary or average weekly hours worked for employees initially underpaid.
For information regarding the return of overpaid 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 New York State Health Care Worker Bonus Program
New York State acknowledges the extraordinary dedication of its frontline health care and mental hygiene workers, who have been instrumental in navigating unprecedented public health challenges, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic. Their tireless efforts have positioned New York as a national leader in combating and overcoming this crisis.
Recognizing the critical need to both attract new talent to this vital sector and retain the experienced professionals who have served diligently over the past years, the New York State government has allocated $1.2 billion in the Fiscal Year 2023 Executive Budget to financially reward these essential workers through the Health Care Worker Bonus (HWB) Program.
Established under Part ZZ of Chapter 56 of the Laws of 2022, the HWB program is designed to “recruit, retain, and reward health care and mental hygiene workers” who meet specific eligibility criteria. Bonuses are calculated based on the number of hours worked by eligible employees during designated vesting periods, with individual workers potentially receiving up to a total of $3,000.
For more details, you can read the official New York State press release: Governor Hochul Launches Health Care Worker Bonus Program.
Stay informed about the Healthcare Worker Bonus (HWB) Program through the Town Hall Webinar Series.
Who are Qualified Employers for the HWB Program?
The New York State Health Care Worker Bonus program defines qualified employers broadly to include various healthcare providers and institutions that play a crucial role in the state’s healthcare ecosystem. Eligible employers must have at least one employee and include:
- Providers billing for services under the Medicaid state plan or through a home or community-based services (HCBS) waiver.
- Providers with agreements to bill for Medicaid services via managed care organizations or managed long-term care plans.
- Specific educational institutions and other funded programs.
- 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).
The submission process varies for Medicaid and non-Medicaid employers.
Medicaid Employers: Must be actively enrolled and payable through eMedNY with an active MMIS ID to access the HWB Program Portal. New providers should visit the eMedNY website for enrollment information.
Non-Medicaid Employers: Should use their SFS Vendor ID to submit claims via the HWB Program Portal. Employers with staff eligible for bonuses but not under Medicaid should contact their relevant state agency (e.g., Office of Mental Health, OPWDD, Office of Children and Family Services, OASAS) for specific program details.
The education sector component of the bonus program is scheduled for rollout in October.
Medicaid providers employing state-paid workers should coordinate through their respective State agency.
Employee Eligibility for the New York State Health Care Bonus
To be eligible for the New York State Health Care Bonus, employees must be considered “front line health care and mental hygiene practitioners, technicians, assistants and aides that provide hands on health or care services to individuals”. Key eligibility criteria for employees include working for a qualified employer (defined above) in an Eligible Worker Title.
Specific employee eligibility requirements are:
- Continuous Employment: Employees must be continuously employed by a qualified employer for at least one full vesting period.
- Eligible Worker Title: Employees must hold a position listed under the Eligible Worker Titles.
- Annualized Base Salary Limit: Employees must not exceed an annualized base salary of $125,000 (excluding bonuses and overtime). This must be confirmed via an Employee Attestation Form submitted to the employer.
- Employment Status: Eligibility extends 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.
HWB Program Bonus Requirements and Amounts
Qualified employers are responsible for submitting bonus claims for their eligible employees who meet the New York State Health Care Bonus criteria. Employee-initiated claims are not permitted.
Claims submission deadlines are set within 30 days after the state publishes the vesting schedule for completed periods and within 30 days following each subsequent vesting period’s end. Vesting occurs when an employee works for the entirety of a vesting period in an Eligible Worker Title.
Upon an employee vesting, employers must provide and collect an Employee Attestation Form 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 determined by the average weekly hours worked during the vesting period:
- $500 Bonus: For employees working 20 to 30 hours per week.
- $1,000 Bonus: For employees working 30 to 35 hours per week.
- $1,500 Bonus: For employees working 35 or more hours per week.
Each qualified employee is eligible for up to two vesting periods per employer, with a maximum total bonus of $3,000.
Vesting Period Schedule for the NY Health Care Bonus
A vesting period is a continuous six-month block between October 1, 2021, and March 31, 2024. Employers must claim for all eligible employees whose 6-month vesting period concludes within the defined vesting period windows below.
| VestingPeriod | Vesting PeriodStart Date | Vesting PeriodEnd Date | Employer SubmissionStart Date | Employer SubmissionClose Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| One | October 1, 2021 | March 31, 2022 | August 3, 2022 | September 2, 2022 |
| Two | April 1, 2022 | September 30, 2022 | October 1, 2022 | October 31, 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
Employers failing to properly identify, claim, and pay bonuses for more than 10 percent of eligible workers may face penalties up to $1,000 per violation under the New York State Health Care Worker Bonus program.
The Office of the Medicaid Inspector General (OMIG) will conduct audits on payments issued by eMedNY to ensure appropriate claiming and disbursement of funds.
Employer Submission Process Details
Employers are required to initiate and complete the bonus claim process on behalf of their employees. Employees cannot claim bonuses individually. The submission process requires the following steps:
Employers must create an account on the HWB Program Portal using a valid MMIS ID, starting from Wednesday, August 3, 2022. Non-Medicaid employers should use their SFS Vendor ID for submissions via the HWB Program Portal.
Upon enrollment, employers can choose to:
- Use a downloadable submission template for bulk data uploads.
- Opt for manual data entry.
Detailed instructions are available in the Technical Portal Guide on the HWB Program Portal.
Comprehensive List of Eligible Worker Titles
Eligible worker titles for the New York State Health Care Bonus encompass roles providing direct, hands-on health or care services. These positions are categorized as frontline and must directly support patient care within specific settings. The eligible titles are defined under SOS § 367-w(2)(a)(i) and (ii), aligning with Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) job listings and the State’s Consolidated Fiscal Reporting and Claiming (CFR) manual, or as authorized by SOS § 367-w(2)(a)(iii).
Important Note on “All Other Health Care Support Workers”: This category includes roles similar to the listed titles that support health care delivery in frontline settings. These workers must support patient-facing care within a patient care unit of a hospital or institutional medical setting.
An expansion to the Healthcare Worker Bonus (HWB) Program, announced on November 17, 2022, includes additional titles and provider types. More information is available on the HWB Program Expansion Notice page.
Complete Table 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.
