Understanding the NY State Health Care Worker Bonus (HWB) Program
New York State has launched the Health Care Worker Bonus (HWB) Program to acknowledge and reward the tireless efforts of essential frontline health care and mental hygiene workers. These dedicated individuals played a pivotal role in navigating the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, transforming New York into a national leader in combating the virus.
Recognizing the immense strain on the healthcare system and the need to both attract new talent and retain experienced professionals, the NY State government has allocated $1.2 billion in the Fiscal Year 2023 Executive Budget. This funding is specifically designated for bonus payments to frontline healthcare workers, financially acknowledging their exceptional service over the past two years.
The Health Care Worker Bonus (HWB) Program, detailed in Part ZZ of Chapter 56 of the Laws of 2022, aims to “recruit, retain, and reward health care and mental hygiene workers” who meet specific eligibility criteria. The bonus amounts are calculated based on the number of hours worked by eligible employees during designated vesting periods, with a maximum bonus of $3,000 per worker.
For the official announcement, please refer to the New York State press release: Governor Hochul Launches Health Care Worker Bonus Program.
Who are Qualified Employers for the NY State HWB Program?
The Ny State Health Care Worker Bonus Program defines qualified employers broadly to encompass a wide range of healthcare providers. Eligible employers include those who bill for services under the Medicaid state plan, home or community-based services (HCBS) waivers, or have agreements to bill for Medicaid services through managed care organizations or managed long-term care plans. The program also extends to certain educational institutions and other funded programs within the healthcare sector.
Specifically, qualified employers can be facilities, pharmacies, and school-based health centers licensed under the state Public Health Law, Mental Hygiene Law, and Education Law. Additionally, 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 under the NY State Health Care Worker Bonus program.
The submission process for bonus claims varies depending on whether the employer is a Medicaid or non-Medicaid provider.
Medicaid Employers: To participate in the NY State Health Care Worker Bonus program, Medicaid employers must be actively enrolled and payable through eMedNY and possess an active MMIS ID. Submissions are made through the dedicated HWB Program Portal. Employers not yet enrolled with eMedNY can find enrollment information on the eMedNY website.
Non-Medicaid Employers: Employers submitting claims for non-Medicaid employees should also use the HWB Program Portal, utilizing their SFS Vendor ID. Non-Medicaid employers who have eligible staff include providers operating under agencies such as 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. For detailed program information, these employers should contact their respective state agencies.
It’s important to note that the education sector component of the bonus program is scheduled to be implemented in October. Medicaid providers who are qualified employers but employ state-paid workers should coordinate their bonus claims through their corresponding State agency.
Who are Eligible Workers for the NY State Health Care Worker Bonus?
The NY State Health Care Worker Bonus program targets “front line health care and mental hygiene practitioners, technicians, assistants, and aides” who provide direct, hands-on health or care services to individuals. Eligibility hinges on working for a qualified employer and holding a position listed under the program’s Eligible Worker Titles.
To be eligible for the NY State Health Care Worker Bonus, employees must meet the following criteria:
- Continuous Employment: Employees must have been 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 defined by the program.
- Annual Salary Limit: Employees must have an annualized base salary of $125,000 or less (excluding bonuses and overtime pay). This must be confirmed through an Employee Attestation form submitted by the employee 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 NY State HWB Program Bonus Requirements
Qualified employers bear the responsibility of submitting claims for bonus payments on behalf of their eligible employees who meet the program criteria. Individual employees cannot apply for the bonus directly.
Claims for the NY State Health Care Worker Bonus must be submitted within 30 days after the Department of Health announces the vesting schedule for completed vesting periods. Subsequent claims are due within 30 days after the conclusion of each additional vesting period. An employee “vests” when they have worked for a qualified 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. This form must be completed and returned to the employer before the claim submission deadline (30 days post-vesting).
Employers are mandated to pay the NY State Health Care Worker Bonus to eligible employees within 30 days of receiving the bonus funds from the state.
The bonus amounts for the NY State Health Care Worker Bonus are determined by 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.
NY State HWB Program Vesting Periods Explained
A vesting period for the NY State Health Care Worker Bonus is defined as a consecutive six-month period 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 periods outlined in the schedule 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 can be downloaded as a PDF for easy reference.
Penalties for Non-Compliance with NY State HWB Program
To ensure proper implementation of the NY State Health Care Worker Bonus program, 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 bonus-eligible workers may face penalties up to $1,000 per violation of the HWB Program guidelines.
The Office of the Medicaid Inspector General (OMIG) will conduct audits of payments disbursed by eMedNY to verify that funds were claimed and distributed correctly and in accordance with program regulations.
NY State HWB Program Employer Submission Process: A Step-by-Step Guide
Employers are solely responsible for claiming the NY State Health Care Worker Bonus on behalf of their employees. Employees cannot submit claims individually. A complete claim submission requires the following steps:
Employers must first create an account on the HWB Program Portal using a valid MMIS ID. Enrollment is available from Wednesday, August 3, 2022. Non-Medicaid employers should submit claims through the same portal using their SFS Vendor ID.
Once enrolled, employers have two options for submitting employee bonus claims:
- Bulk Data Submission: Download a submission template from the portal to facilitate bulk data uploads for multiple employees.
- Manual Entry: Submit claims individually through manual data entry directly on the portal.
Detailed instructions and guidance can be found in the Technical Portal Guide, accessible on the HWB Program Portal.
Detailed List of Eligible Worker Titles for NY State HWB Program
The NY State Health Care Worker Bonus program specifies eligible 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 with health services (clinical) or care services (non-clinical). Frontline workers in these roles must directly provide or support health or care services to patients in specified settings and hold one of the titles listed in the statute. These titles are aligned with the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) job listings 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 workers in roles similar to the listed titles who support the delivery of healthcare services to patients in frontline settings. These workers must support patient-facing care within a patient care unit of a hospital or similar institutional medical setting, directly contributing to patient treatment and care.
Complete 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 |
On November 17, 2022, the New York State Department of Health announced an expansion of the Health Care Worker Bonus (HWB) Program, including additional titles and eligible provider types. For more details, refer to the HWB Program Expansion Notice page.
Need More Information about the NY State Health Care Worker Bonus Program?
For further information and assistance regarding the NY State Health Care Worker Bonus program, please visit the official HWB Program Portal or contact the Health Care Worker Bonus (HWB) Call Center at (866) 682-0077.
Please note: This article is for informational purposes only and based on the information available in the original source as of the last update of that source. For the most current and accurate details, always refer to the official NY State Health Department resources and the HWB Program Portal.
