Vesting Period Three Opens for Healthcare Worker Bonus Program

The Situation Report | March 27, 2023

The reporting period for Vesting Period three of the Healthcare Worker Bonus program opens April 1, 2023 for employees who worked from October 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023, and will close on May 1, 2023. 

Next, the state Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed that it hopes to launch in early April a portal that will allow agencies to make corrections to information they previously submitted for bonuses.  

In addition, DOH has also posted updated Frequently Asked Questions.  The following is a new question that replaced one in the prior version: 

  1. What happens if I identify an overpayment after a submission period is closed? 
  2. Please note this process is for EMPLOYERS only. Employers are required to report, return, and explain any overpaid HWB funds received. Additional information, including directions on reporting and returning your overpayment can be found here: Office of the Medicaid Inspector General – Self Disclosure of HWB Program Payments. 

Please Note: Employers are prohibited from recovering bonuses paid to Employees under the HWB program even if the payment is later identified as an overpayment. See “Q. Can an Employer take back the HWB bonus from and Employee?” 

As a reminder, Qualified employers will pay bonus amounts to qualified employees based on the number of hours worked during the vesting period as defined below: 

  • Qualified employees who work at least 20 hours but no more than 30 hours per week are eligible for a bonus of $500; 
  • Qualified employees who work at least 30 hours but no more than 35 hours per week are eligible for a bonus of $1,000; and 
  • Qualified employees who work at least 35 hours per week are eligible for a bonus of $1,500. 

A qualified employee is eligible for up to two vesting periods per employer. The maximum any employee may receive is $3,000. 

Despite strenuous objections by HCA, home care aides are still not considered “qualified” employers and thus are not eligible for bonuses. 

More information on the Bonus Program is at Health Care Worker Bonus Program (ny.gov) 

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