New York State has launched the Workers Care Program to acknowledge and reward the tireless efforts of its healthcare and mental hygiene workforce. These essential front-line workers have been instrumental in navigating unprecedented public health challenges, particularly during the recent global health crisis. Their dedication has not only sustained the health and well-being of New Yorkers but has also positioned the state as a leader in overcoming adversity.
To ensure the continued strength and resilience of this vital sector, the Workers Care Program, backed by $1.2 billion in state funding, is designed to attract new talent and retain experienced professionals. This financial recognition serves as a testament to their invaluable service and sacrifice, reinforcing the state’s commitment to supporting those who care for its citizens. Established as part of the Fiscal Year 2023 New York State Executive Budget legislation, the Health Care Worker Bonus (HWB) provision, now widely known as the Workers Care Program, aims to “recruit, retain, and reward health care and mental hygiene workers” who meet specific eligibility criteria. Bonus amounts will be calculated based on the hours worked during designated vesting periods, offering up to a total of $3,000 per eligible worker.
For more details, the official New York State press release, titled Governor Hochul Launches Health Care Worker Bonus Program, provides further context and information.
Who are Qualified Employers for the Workers Care Program?
The Workers Care Program extends to a broad spectrum of employers within the healthcare and mental hygiene sectors. Qualified employers include 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 also encompasses providers with agreements to bill for Medicaid services via managed care organizations or managed long-term care plans. Certain educational institutions and other funded programs also fall under the umbrella of qualified employers.
Specifically, this includes licensed facilities, pharmacies, and school-based health centers operating under the state Public Health Law, Mental Hygiene Law, and Education Law. Furthermore, programs funded by key state offices such as the Office of Mental Health (OMH), the Office for the Aging, the Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS), and the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) are also considered qualified employers under the Workers Care Program.
The submission process for participating in the Workers Care Program differs based on whether employers are categorized as Medicaid or non-Medicaid providers.
Medicaid employers must possess current enrollment and payment status through eMedNY, along with an active MMIS ID. This is essential for accessing and submitting claims through the designated HWB Program Portal. Providers not currently enrolled with eMedNY can find comprehensive information about the enrollment process on the eMedNY website.
For employers submitting claims for non-Medicaid employees, access to the HWB Program Portal is granted using their SFS Vendor ID. Employers with staff eligible for the Workers Care Program bonuses but not under Medicaid should reach out to their relevant state agency for specific program details. Agencies overseeing providers without an active MMIS ID (Non-Medicaid) 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.
The inclusion of the education sector within the Workers Care Program is scheduled to commence in October.
Medicaid providers who qualify as employers but employ workers paid directly by the State should coordinate their participation through their respective State agency.
Are You Eligible? Worker Criteria for the Workers Care Program
Worker eligibility for the Workers Care Program is defined for “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 be working for a qualified employer, as described above, and must hold a position listed under the Eligible Worker Titles.
In addition to these core requirements, employees must also meet the following criteria to qualify for the Workers Care Program bonus:
- Continuous Employment: Employees must have been continuously employed by a qualified employer for the entire duration of at least one vesting period (further details on vesting periods are provided below).
- Eligible Worker Title: The employee’s job title must be included in the official list of Eligible Worker Titles specified for the Workers Care Program.
- Annual Salary Limit: Eligible employees must not have exceeded an annualized base salary of $125,000 (excluding bonuses and overtime pay). This salary is confirmed through an Employee Attestation Form, which employees are required to complete and return to their employer.
- Employment Status: Eligibility is inclusive of full-time, part-time, and temporary employees, as well as independent contractors, ensuring broad coverage across different employment types within the healthcare sector.
- Medicaid Status: Employees must not be suspended or excluded from the Medicaid program at any point during the vesting period to maintain eligibility for the Workers Care Program benefits.
Understanding the Bonus Structure of the Workers Care Program
Under the Workers Care Program, qualified employers bear the responsibility of submitting claims for bonus payments on behalf of their eligible employees who meet all the necessary criteria. Individual employees are not permitted to submit claims independently.
To facilitate timely processing, claims for the Workers Care Program must be submitted within 30 days after the Department of Health announces the vesting schedule for completed vesting periods. Subsequently, claims are to be submitted within 30 days following the conclusion of each additional vesting period. An employee is considered vested if they have been employed by a qualified employer for the entire six-month vesting period in an Eligible Worker Title.
Upon an employee achieving vesting, qualified employers are required to provide them with an Employee Attestation Form. This form must be requested to be returned to the employer before the claim submission deadline, which is 30 days post-vesting.
Qualified employers are mandated to pay the Workers Care Program bonuses to eligible employees no later than 30 days after the bonus amount is disbursed to the employer.
The bonus amounts distributed to qualified employees are directly linked to the number of hours worked during each vesting period, structured as follows:
- Employees working between 20 and 30 hours per week are eligible for a Workers Care Program bonus of $500.
- Employees working between 30 and 35 hours weekly qualify for a bonus of $1,000.
- Employees working 35 hours or more per week are entitled to a bonus of $1,500.
Each qualified employee can be eligible for up to two vesting periods per employer, with a maximum total bonus amount capped at $3,000 per employee under the Workers Care Program.
Vesting Periods for the Workers Care Program: Key Dates
The Workers Care Program operates on vesting periods, each defined as a consecutive six-month duration within the timeframe of October 1, 2021, to March 31, 2024. Employers are required to submit claims for all eligible employees whose six-month vesting period concludes within the defined vesting 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 |
For a downloadable version of this schedule, the Vesting Period Schedule is available as a PDF.
Penalties for Non-Compliance with the Workers Care Program
To ensure adherence to the Workers Care Program guidelines, penalties are in place for qualified employers who do not meet their obligations. 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 for each violation of the HWB Program regulations.
The Office of the Medicaid Inspector General (OMIG) will conduct audits on payments processed by eMedNY to verify that funds have been appropriately claimed and distributed under the Workers Care Program.
How Employers Can Submit Claims for the Workers Care Program
Under the Workers Care Program, the responsibility for claiming bonuses rests solely with the qualified employers. Employees are not authorized to submit claims on their own behalf. A critical step in the claim submission process involves employer attestations to ensure accuracy and compliance.
To begin, employers must create an account on the HWB Program Portal. Enrollment can be initiated on or after Wednesday, August 3, 2022, using a valid MMIS ID for Medicaid employers. For employers submitting claims for non-Medicaid employees, the HWB Program Portal should be accessed using their SFS Vendor ID.
Once enrolled, employers have two options for submitting employee data:
- Download and utilize a submission template designed for bulk data uploads, streamlining the process for larger organizations.
- Opt for manual data entry directly through the portal for individual submissions or smaller datasets.
Detailed instructions and guidance on using the portal are available in the Technical Portal Guide, accessible directly on the HWB Program Portal.
Who Qualifies? Eligible Worker Titles under the Workers Care Program
Eligible worker titles for the Workers Care Program encompass a range of front-line roles directly involved in providing health and care services. These positions require hands-on assistance, either clinical or non-clinical, in settings where direct patient care is delivered or supported. Eligibility is based on specific titles listed in SOS § 367-w(2)(a)(i) and (ii), which align with Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) job classifications and the State’s Consolidated Fiscal Reporting and Claiming (CFR) manual, or under the authority of SOS § 367-w(2)(a)(iii).
Important Note on “All Other Health Care Support Workers”: This category includes roles similar to the explicitly listed titles that support healthcare service delivery in front-line settings. These workers must provide support within patient care units of hospitals or institutional medical environments, directly 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, broadening the scope to include additional titles and provider types. Further details are available on the HWB Program Expansion Notice page.
The full list of Eligible Worker Titles are listed in the table below:
| 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 on the Workers Care Program?
For further details about the Workers Care Program, including comprehensive guides, resources, and updates, please visit the official HWB Program Portal. Should you require direct assistance or have specific inquiries, the Health Care Worker Bonus (HWB) Call Center is available at (866) 682-0077.
The Workers Care Program stands as a crucial initiative to support and appreciate the backbone of New York’s healthcare system. By providing financial bonuses and recognizing the dedication of these essential workers, the state aims to foster a stronger, more resilient healthcare workforce for the future.
