New York State has launched the Health Care Worker Bonus (HWB) Program to acknowledge and reward the invaluable contributions of frontline health care and mental hygiene workers. These dedicated individuals have been instrumental in navigating the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. This program, a key component of the Fiscal Year 2023 New York State Executive Budget, allocates $1.2 billion to provide bonuses to eligible healthcare workers, aiming to both retain the current workforce and attract new talent to this critical sector.
This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the Ny Health Care Worker Bonus Program 2022, outlining eligibility requirements for both employers and employees, bonus amounts, vesting periods, and the application process. It serves as an essential resource for understanding this significant initiative designed to support New York’s healthcare heroes.
Understanding the NY Health Care Worker Bonus Program
The NY Health Care Worker Bonus Program 2022 was established to “recruit, retain, and reward health care and mental hygiene workers” who have served tirelessly during extraordinary times. Recognizing the immense strain placed on the healthcare system, this program offers financial bonuses as a tangible expression of gratitude and support. The bonus amounts are structured to reflect the hours worked by eligible employees during specific vesting periods, with a maximum bonus of $3,000 per worker.
Governor Kathy Hochul officially announced the program, emphasizing its importance in bolstering the healthcare workforce. Further details can be found in the official press release: Governor Hochul Launches Health Care Worker Bonus Program.
Who are Qualified Employers?
Eligibility for the NY Health Care Worker Bonus Program 2022 extends to a range of employers within the healthcare and mental hygiene sectors. Qualified employers are defined as providers who:
- Bill for services under the Medicaid state plan or a Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver.
- Have a provider agreement to bill for Medicaid services through a managed care organization or managed long-term care plan.
- Are certain educational institutions and other funded programs.
Specifically, this includes facilities, pharmacies, and school-based health centers licensed under the New York 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.
The submission process varies depending on whether the employer is a Medicaid or non-Medicaid provider.
Medicaid Employers: Must be actively enrolled in eMedNY and possess an active MMIS ID to access the HWB Program Portal for submissions. New providers can learn about enrollment on the eMedNY website.
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 relevant state agency (OMH, OPWDD, OCFS, OASAS) for specific program details.
The bonus program for the education sector is anticipated to commence in October. Medicaid providers employing state-paid workers should coordinate through their respective state agencies.
Who are Eligible Workers?
Worker eligibility for the NY Health Care Worker Bonus Program 2022 is clearly defined. Qualified employees are considered “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, employees must:
- Work for a qualified employer (as detailed above).
- Hold a position within the list of Eligible Worker Titles (see full list below).
- Maintain continuous employment with a qualified employer for at least one full vesting period.
- Have an annualized base salary of $125,000 or less (excluding bonuses and overtime), confirmed through an Employee Attestation Form.
- Be employed in full-time, part-time, temporary, or independent contractor roles.
- Not be suspended or excluded from the Medicaid program during the vesting period.
Bonus Amounts and Requirements
Qualified employers are responsible for submitting bonus claims on behalf of their eligible employees for the NY Health Care Worker Bonus Program 2022. Employees cannot apply for bonuses individually. Claims must be submitted within 30 days of the publication of a vesting schedule and within 30 days after each subsequent vesting period concludes. An employee vests when they have worked for the entirety of a vesting period in an eligible worker title.
Upon an employee vesting, employers must provide them with an Employee Attestation Form to be completed and returned before the claim submission deadline. Employers are mandated to pay the bonus to eligible employees within 30 days of receiving the bonus payment from the state.
Bonus amounts are determined by the average weekly hours worked during the vesting period:
- $500 Bonus: For employees working 20-30 hours per week.
- $1,000 Bonus: For employees working 30-35 hours per week.
- $1,500 Bonus: For employees working 35+ hours per week.
Each qualified employee can receive bonuses for up to two vesting periods per employer, with a maximum total bonus of $3,000.
Vesting Period Schedule
Vesting periods for the NY Health Care Worker Bonus Program 2022 are defined as six-month consecutive periods between October 1, 2021, and March 31, 2024. Employers will submit claims for all eligible employees whose 6-month vesting period concludes within the defined vesting period windows:
| 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 available for download as a PDF.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
To ensure the integrity of the NY Health Care Worker Bonus Program 2022, penalties are in place for non-compliant qualified employers. Employers who fail to identify, claim, and/or pay bonuses for more than 10 percent of their eligible workers may face penalties of up to $1,000 per violation.
The Office of the Medicaid Inspector General (OMIG) will conduct audits of payments to verify that funds were appropriately claimed and distributed.
Employer Submission Process Explained
Employers are required to initiate the bonus claim process for their employees under the NY Health Care Worker Bonus Program 2022. Employees cannot apply directly.
To begin, employers must create an account on the HWB Program Portal using a valid MMIS ID, starting from August 3, 2022. Non-Medicaid employers will use their SFS Vendor ID for submissions on the same portal.
Once enrolled, employers have two options for submitting claims:
- Bulk Data Submission: Download a submission template for uploading data in bulk.
- Manual Entry: Submit claims individually through manual entry on the portal.
Detailed instructions are available in the Technical Portal Guide on the HWB Program Portal.
List of Eligible Worker Titles
Eligible worker titles for the NY Health Care Worker Bonus Program 2022 encompass frontline workers providing direct health or care services. These titles are categorized as Frontline Direct Care Health and Mental Hygiene Workers, All Other Health Care Support Workers, and Titles Determined by the Commissioner, mirroring classifications from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the State’s Consolidated Fiscal Reporting and Claiming (CFR) manual.
Important Note: “All Other Health Care Support Workers” refers to roles that are similar to the listed titles and directly support patient care in frontline settings, specifically within patient care units of hospitals or institutional medical settings.
An expansion of the HWB Program, announced on November 17, 2022, added further titles and provider types. 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 about the NY Health Care Worker Bonus Program 2022, please visit the official HWB Program Portal. You can also contact the Health Care Worker Bonus (HWB) Call Center at (866) 682-0077 for direct assistance. This program represents a significant investment in New York’s healthcare workforce, acknowledging their dedication and encouraging continued service in this vital sector.
