On Wednesday, Governor Hochul launched the $1.3 billion bonus program enacted in the New York State budget to reward and retain nurses and healthcare workers. The program will pay out bonuses up to a total of $3,000 per employee to healthcare workers earning an annual base salary of less than $125,000 (excluding any bonus or overtime pay). The bonus payments are not optional – eligible employers are required to submit reimbursement claims to the state and make bonus payments to all eligible employees or face penalties including suspension from the Medicaid program.

The program states that frontline health and mental hygiene workers who “provide hands-on health or care services to individuals” are eligible for the bonus, including full-time, part-time, temporary and contracted workers. Registered nurses, nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, and a wide range of non-nursing direct care staff are eligible for the bonus payment.

NYSNA has updated its memo on the healthcare bonus program and eligibility. As more details are announced about this program, we will keep you updated. NYSNA continues to advocate for retention bonuses for ALL healthcare workers and will monitor this program closely to ensure all eligible NYSNA members are included.