Understanding the Health Care and Mental Hygiene 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 have been instrumental in navigating the unprecedented challenges of a global health crisis, transforming New York into a leading state in the fight against COVID-19.
Recognizing the critical need to attract new talent and retain experienced professionals amidst significant industry pressures, the HWB Program aims to provide financial bonuses as a tangible expression of gratitude for their service. As part of the Fiscal Year 2023 New York State Executive Budget, a substantial allocation of $1.2 billion has been designated for these bonus payments to eligible frontline healthcare workers.
Officially detailed within Part ZZ of Chapter 56 of the Laws of 2022, the HWB program is structured to “recruit, retain, and reward health care and mental hygiene workers” who meet specific eligibility criteria. Bonus amounts are calculated based on 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 is available: Governor Hochul Launches Health Care Worker Bonus Program.
Who are Qualified Employers for the HWB Program?
To participate in the Health Care Worker Bonus program, employers must meet specific qualifications. Eligible employers include providers who bill for services under the Medicaid state plan or through a Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver and have at least one employee. This also extends to providers with 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, this encompasses licensed providers, facilities, pharmacies, and school-based health centers operating 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 included within the scope of qualified employers.
The submission process varies based on whether employers are Medicaid or non-Medicaid providers.
For Medicaid Employers: Enrollment and payment processing must be active through eMedNY, and employers must possess an active MMIS ID to access the HWB Program Portal for submissions. Providers not currently enrolled with eMedNY can find enrollment information on the eMedNY website.
For Non-Medicaid Employers: Submissions are also made through the HWB Program Portal, utilizing their SFS Vendor ID. Employers with staff eligible for bonuses but not under Medicaid should contact their respective state agency for specific program details. These agencies may 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 bonus program for the education sector is scheduled to begin in October.
Medicaid providers who are qualified employers but employ state-paid workers should coordinate their participation through their respective State agency.
Understanding Worker Eligibility for the Health Care Worker Bonus
To be eligible for the Health Care Worker Bonus, employees must be “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) in a role listed under Eligible Worker Titles.
Specific eligibility criteria for employees include:
- Continuous Employment: Employees must have been continuously employed by a qualified employer for at least one full vesting period (see vesting periods below).
- Eligible Worker Title: The employee’s job title must be included in the list of Eligible Worker Titles.
- Annualized Base Salary Limit: Employees must not exceed an annualized base salary of $125,000 (excluding bonuses and overtime). This is verified through an Employee Attestation form that employees must complete and return to their employer.
- Employment Status: Eligibility extends to full-time, part-time, temporary employees, and independent contractors.
- Medicaid Program Status: Employees must not be suspended or excluded from the Medicaid program during the vesting period.
HWB Program Bonus Requirements and Payment Structure
Qualified employers are responsible for submitting bonus claims on behalf of their eligible employees who meet the program criteria. Employees cannot apply for bonuses independently.
Claims must be submitted within 30 days after the Department of Health announces a vesting schedule for completed vesting periods, and subsequently within 30 days after each subsequent vesting period concludes. An employee vests when they have worked for the employer throughout a complete 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 determined by the average weekly hours worked by the qualified employee during the vesting period:
- $500 Bonus: For employees working at least 20 hours but no more than 30 hours per week.
- $1,000 Bonus: For employees working at least 30 hours but no more than 35 hours per week.
- $1,500 Bonus: For employees working at least 35 hours 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 Health Care Worker Bonus
A vesting period is defined as a continuous 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 Period Start Date | Vesting Period End Date | Employer Submission Start Date | Employer Submission Close 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 Vesting Period Schedule is also available for download as a PDF for your convenience.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Employers who fail to accurately identify, claim, and/or pay bonuses for more than 10 percent of their bonus-eligible workforce 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 ensure proper claim submission and fund distribution.
Employer Bonus Claim Submission Process
It is crucial to reiterate that qualified employers must initiate the bonus claim process on behalf of their employees; individual employees cannot claim bonuses directly. To ensure a complete claim submission, the following attestations are necessary:
Employers must first create an account on the HWB Program Portal using a valid MMIS ID, beginning on or after Wednesday, August 3, 2022. Non-Medicaid employers should use their SFS Vendor ID for submissions through the same portal.
Once enrolled, employers have two options for submitting claims:
- Bulk Data Submission: Download a submission template for efficient bulk data uploads.
- Manual Entry: Submit claims individually through manual data entry on the portal.
Detailed instructions are available in the Technical Portal Guide located on the HWB Program Portal.
Comprehensive List of Eligible Worker Titles
Eligible worker titles for the bonus encompass frontline workers who provide direct, hands-on assistance with health services (clinical roles) or care services (non-clinical roles). These roles must involve direct patient interaction or support within specific healthcare settings and align with titles specified in the statute. These titles are based on SOS § 367-w(2)(a)(i) and (ii), mirroring Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) job classifications 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 those explicitly listed, which support health care delivery in frontline settings. These workers must support patient-facing care within a patient care unit of a hospital or similar medical institution, aiding in 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 to include additional titles and provider types. Further details are available on the HWB Program Expansion Notice page.
Detailed Table 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
For more detailed information, please visit the HWB Program Portal or contact the Health Care Worker Bonus (HWB) Call Center at (866) 682-0077.
