NYS Launches Healthcare Worker Bonus (HWB) Program
Governor Hochul today gave a press conference which centered on strengthening New York’s healthcare workforce. Citing a 32% workforce shortage realized as early as 2018, compounded by the pandemic, the Governor stated it is a crisis for all New Yorkers, and that it was time to bolster New York’s healthcare workforce. Governor Hochul’s 2022 State-of-the-State address committed to a 20% increase in healthcare funding over the next five years.
A two-step approach was previewed:
- Making it easier to enter the healthcare workforce via 1,000 new nursing scholarships ($15M in funding), noting that there presently were 9,300 healthcare openings.
- A $3,000 bonus for current eligible healthcare workers earning less than $125k.
An online portal has been established to facilitate submission by eligible employers on behalf of their qualified employees for allocation of the $1.2B funding related to the HWB.
NYSHFA will provide updates regarding the HWB rollout as further information is released.
Below is the MRT Listserv notice which contains links to the HWB program announcement, program portal, and program FAQ’s:
New York’s essential frontline health care and mental hygiene workers have seen us through a once-in-a-century public health crisis that transformed our state into a model for battling COVID-19. As part of the Fiscal Year 2023 New York State Executive Budget legislation, $1.2 billion has been allocated by Governor Kathy Hochul and the State Legislature via the Health Care and Mental Hygiene Worker Bonus (HWB) Program for the payment of bonuses to “recruit, retain, and reward health care and mental hygiene workers” who meet specified eligibility requirements. The official press release can be found at the following link: Governor Hochul Launches Health Care Worker Bonus Program.
This listserv notice is to inform our provider community that the New York State Department of Health, working with the Governor’s Office and other state agency partners, has launched the HWB Program Portal to facilitate submission by eligible employers on behalf of their employees who qualify for bonus payments.
As a next step, all providers are strongly encouraged to visit the following links for more information:
HWB Program Announcement and Information
https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/providers/hwb_program/
HWB Program FAQs
https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/providers/hwb_program/hwb_program_faq.htm
HWB Program Portal
https://www.nysworkerbonus.com/
Providers with additional questions may contact the Health Care Worker Bonus Call Center at (866) 682-0077 or via email at nysworkersbonus@health.ny.gov.
NYSHFA/NYSCAL CONTACTS:
Stephen B. Hanse, Esq.`
President & CEO
518-462-4800 x11
Carl J. Pucci
Chief Financial Officer
518-462-4800 x36
