New York State is demonstrating its profound appreciation for its essential frontline health care and mental hygiene workers through the Health Care Worker Bonus (HWB) Program. This initiative acknowledges the extraordinary dedication and tireless efforts of these professionals who have been instrumental in navigating the state through unprecedented public health challenges.
Recognizing the immense strain on the healthcare system and the critical need to both attract new talent and retain experienced professionals, New York has allocated $1.2 billion in the Fiscal Year 2023 budget to financially reward these essential workers. This bonus program is a tangible expression of gratitude for their unwavering service and commitment.
Officially sanctioned 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. The bonus amounts are structured to reflect the hours worked by eligible employees during defined vesting periods, with individual workers potentially receiving up to $3,000 in total bonuses.
For further details, the official New York State press release, “Governor Hochul Launches Health Care Worker Bonus Program,” provides additional context and information about the program’s launch.
Understanding Qualified Employers for the NY Health Care Worker Bonus
The Ny Health Care Worker Bonus Program extends to a range of qualified employers, primarily encompassing providers who participate in the Medicaid system. This includes those who bill for services under the Medicaid state plan, home or community-based services (HCBS) waivers, or those with provider agreements to bill for Medicaid services through managed care organizations or managed long-term care plans. Certain educational institutions and other funded programs also qualify.
Specifically, eligible 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), Office for the Aging, Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS), and the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) are also included in the qualified employer category.
Submission Procedures for Employers:
The submission process for bonus claims varies based on whether the employer is a Medicaid or non-Medicaid provider.
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Medicaid 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 yet enrolled with eMedNY can find enrollment information on the eMedNY website.
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Non-Medicaid Employers: Should utilize their SFS Vendor ID to submit claims through the HWB Program Portal. Employers with staff eligible for bonuses but not under Medicaid should contact their respective state agency for program details. Relevant agencies for 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 is important to note that the education sector’s bonus program rollout is scheduled for October. Medicaid providers who are qualified employers but employ state-paid workers should coordinate through their state agency.
Who is Eligible for the NY Health Care Worker Bonus? – Worker Eligibility
The NY Health Care Worker Bonus program is designed for “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 detailed above) and holding a position listed under the Eligible Worker Titles.
To be eligible, employees must meet the following criteria:
- Continuous Employment: Must be continuously employed by a qualified employer for at least one full vesting period.
- Eligible Worker Title: The employee’s job title must be included in the official list of Eligible Worker Titles.
- Annual Salary Limit: Must have an annualized base salary of $125,000 or less (excluding bonuses and overtime), confirmed through an Employee Attestation form submitted to the employer.
- Employment Status: Eligibility extends to full-time, part-time, temporary employees, and independent contractors.
- Medicaid Compliance: Must not be suspended or excluded from the Medicaid program during the vesting period.
Bonus Amounts and Requirements for the NY Health Care Worker Bonus
Qualified employers are responsible for submitting bonus claims on behalf of their eligible employees who meet the HWB program criteria. Employees cannot apply for the bonus individually.
Claims for qualified employees must be submitted within 30 days after the state publishes a vesting schedule for completed vesting periods, and subsequently within 30 days after each additional vesting period concludes. Employee vesting occurs 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, which must 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 weekly hours worked by the qualified employee during the vesting period:
- $500 Bonus: For employees working between 20 and 30 hours per week.
- $1,000 Bonus: For employees working between 30 and 35 hours per week.
- $1,500 Bonus: For employees working 35 hours or more 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 Worker Bonus Program
A vesting period is defined as a consecutive 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.
| 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 | 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
To ensure program integrity, qualified employers who fail to properly identify, claim, and pay bonuses for more than 10 percent of their bonus-eligible workforce may face penalties of up to $1,000 per violation of the HWB Program guidelines.
The Office of the Medicaid Inspector General (OMIG) will conduct audits of payments processed by eMedNY to verify the appropriate claiming and disbursement of funds.
Employer Claim Submission Process in Detail
Employers are solely responsible for claiming bonuses on behalf of their employees; individual employees cannot claim bonuses directly. Complete claim submissions require specific attestations from the employer.
To begin, employers must 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 for submissions 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: Choose to enter employee data directly through the portal interface.
Detailed instructions are available in the Technical Portal Guide, accessible on the HWB Program Portal.
Comprehensive List of Eligible Worker Titles for the NY Health Care Worker Bonus
The NY Health Care Worker Bonus program covers a broad spectrum of employee worker titles, encompassing frontline workers providing direct health or care services. These roles are categorized as providing hands-on assistance in clinical or non-clinical settings. To be considered front-line, workers must directly support or provide health or care services to patients in specific settings and hold one of the titles listed in the statute.
These eligible titles are defined under SOS § 367-w(2)(a)(i) and (ii), mirroring job listings from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the State’s Consolidated Fiscal Reporting and Claiming (CFR) manual, or authorized under 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 patient care in front-line settings. These workers must support patient-facing care within a patient care unit of a hospital or similar institutional medical environment, contributing to the treatment and care of patients.
On November 17, 2022, the New York State Department of Health announced an expansion of the HWB Program to include additional titles and provider types. Further details can be found 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 about the NY Health Care Worker Bonus
For more detailed information and resources regarding the NY Health Care Worker Bonus program, please visit the official HWB Program Portal. You can also contact the Health Care Worker Bonus (HWB) Call Center directly at (866) 682-0077 for any specific queries or assistance.
