New York State opened its healthcare worker bonus portal on August 3, 2022. Qualified employers must submit bonus claims for eligible employees based on specified vesting periods. For some workers, claims must be submitted by September 2, 2022. Eligible employees may be entitled to up to $3,000 under the NYS healthcare worker bonus program.

Qualified Employers

The description of employers who may be obligated to obtain bonuses for their workers under this program is somewhat complex.

As summarized by the NYS Department of Health, qualified employers include “certain providers with at least one employee, and that bill for services under the Medicaid state plan or a home or community-based services (HCBS) waiver, providers that have a provider agreement to bill for Medicaid services provided or arranged through a managed care organization or a managed long term care plan, and certain educational institutions and other funded programs.”

The DOH specifies that these include: “certain providers, facilities, pharmacies, and school-based health centers licensed under the state Public Health Law, Mental Hygiene Law, and Education Law, as well as certain 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).”

While this program does apply to public and private schools, the initial portal does not pertain to them. The education portion of the program is planned to open in October 2022, likely with further guidance from the NYS Department of Education.

Who Gets the Bonuses?

Individuals who worked in certain positions for qualified employers during relevant timeframes may be eligible for a bonus under the program. Eligibility extends beyond those with an employment relationship to some independent contractors. Both full- and part-time workers may be eligible.

To qualify for a healthcare worker bonus, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:

• Were employed by a qualified employer throughout at least one vesting period.
• Have a title included on the list of Eligible Worker Titles.
• Not exceed an annualized base salary of $125,000.
• Not have been suspended or excluded from the Medicaid program during the vesting period.

Eligible Worker Titles

Generally, healthcare workers may qualify for the bonus program if they work in positions that provide hands-on assistance with clinical or non-clinical health or care services. Eligible titles include nurses, counselors, therapists, and physician assistants. But other workers in healthcare settings may qualify, such as custodians, clerks, and food preparation workers.

The NYS Department of Health has established the following “full” list of eligible titles. However, there may still be ambiguity about who qualifies under some titles.

Frontline Direct Care Health and Mental Hygiene Workers

• 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

All Other Health Care Support Workers

• 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
• Sanitation Worker
• Service Worker
• Support Services Worker
• Unit Assistant
• Unit Associate
• Unit Coordinator
• Unit Receptionist
• Unit Secretary

Titles Determined by the Commissioner

• Medical Fellow
• Medical Resident

Vesting Periods

Vesting periods are six-month intervals between October 1, 2021, and March 31, 2024, as set forth below.

Qualified employers eligible workers in any vesting period must provide them with an Employee Attestation Form that must be returned before the applicable submission date.

Healthcare Worker Bonus Payments

Healthcare worker bonus payment amounts depend on hours worked during a vesting period:

• 20-30 hours per week: $500
• 30-35 hours per week: $1,000
• 35+ hours per week: $1,500

Employees may receive a bonus for up to two vesting periods per qualifying employer. No employee can receive more than $3,000 under the program.

Employer Obligations

Qualifying employers must file through the Healthcare Worker Bonus Program Portal within a month after each vesting period in which they have eligible employees. (By September 2, 2022, for the initial October 1, 2021 – March 31, 2022 vesting period).

Once the employer receives the bonus money for the vesting period, it must pay the bonuses out to workers within 30 days.

Employers who do not identify, claim, and pay bonuses for at least 90% of bonus-eligible workers may be penalized up to $1,000 per violation. The Office of the Medicaid Inspector General will audit payments.

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