On January 13th, the New York State Department of Health (DOH) announced that employers of staff who are newly eligible for the Health Care Worker Bonus (HWB) Program under the expansion it announced in November (summarized by SPG here) should submit requests for funds during a 30-day “Exception Submission” period starting on February 1st.
Newly eligible workers include Health Home Care Managers, security guards and peace officers in residential settings, and employees at previously ineligible employers such as supportive housing agencies. Requests should apply only for employees who were eligible for Vesting Periods 1 and 2 (from October 2021 through September 2022). Requests for these employees in future vesting periods should be submitted along with requests for all other employees.
Additional information on the HWB Program is available here. DOH has updated its Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to address this expansion here. Questions may be submitted to NYSWorkersBonus@health.ny.gov.