NYS: $646 million to recruit and train thousands more health care workers

Goal is to create new career pathways for next generation of health, mental health and social care workers, provide new career advancement opportunities for current workers

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced three workforce investment organizations will receive awards totaling up to $646 million over the next three years to implement the career pathways training program, which will recruit and train thousands of new health, mental health, and social care workers across New York. This program will also provide new career advancement opportunities to many current health care workers throughout the state.

The WIO awardees are 1199SEIU training and employment funds, Iroquois Healthcare Association, and the Finger Lakes Performing Provider System. Hochul’s team said this announcement is made possible through the governor's 1115 New York Health Equity Reform Waiver approved in January.

“The health of every New Yorker depends on a strong, stable and equitable health care system, and health care workers are its very foundation,” Hochul said. “This investment allows us to continue to retain and grow our health care workforce and ensure we deliver the highest quality health care for New Yorkers.”

As the designated WIOs under the CPT program, the 1199SEIU training and employment funds, Iroquois Healthcare Association, and Finger Lakes Performing Provider System will use this new funding to:

√ Conduct outreach and recruit thousands of new and current health, mental health, and social care workers for participation in the CPT program.

√ Support CPT program participants with tutoring and other academic support such as apprenticeship and mentorship programs.

√ Make payments to support participants’ tuition program fees, textbooks and supplies.

√ Aid in job readiness and placement to meet service commitments.

√ Hold educational programs for new and current health, mental health, and social care workers, including application and enrollment assistance.

√ Form partnerships with educational institutions and other stakeholders to increase career opportunities for CPT program participants.

√ Perform data collection and reporting on CPT program performance metrics, spending, and other information.

Hochul’s team said the funding awarded to these workforce investment organizations is possible because the governor secured an amendment to New York’s Medicaid Section 1115 Demonstration that allows New York to invest nearly $6 billion of federal funding into New York's health care system over the next three years. The waiver amendment is now allowing New York to make transformative investments, including establishing social care networks to integrate health, behavioral, and social care services that connect high-need members to critical nutritional and housing support services; enhancing access to coordinated and comprehensive treatment for substance use disorders; investing in primary care and making long-term, sustainable investments in the state’s health care workforce.

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer said, “The health of our community depends on the strength of our health care workforce. This investment in the career pathways training program will help expand New York’s health care workforce by recruiting, training, and providing new opportunities to thousands of health care workers. Boosting good-paying health care jobs is a win-win-win, a win for our current and future health care workers, and a win for New York’s patients and our economy. I’ve worked hard to secure federal investments in our health care system through the American Rescue Plan, and I’m grateful for Gov. Hochul’s commitment to strengthening our health care workforce.”

Rep. Tim Kennedy said, “Communities in Western New York need and deserve access to high-quality health care. This game-changing funding will set our region on the path to providing equitable and accessible health care and social services now and in the future by recruiting the next generation of professionals and developing those who are already in the field. In my district, this funding will empower the Finger Lakes Performing Provider System to invest in the workforce our region relies on to lead healthy and fulfilling lives.”

1199SEIU Secretary-Treasurer Milly Silva said, “We have lost many caregivers over the past few years leading to critical staffing shortages across the continuum of care. 1199SEIU appreciates Gov. Hochul’s historic investment to rebuild this workforce by training New Yorkers for occupations experiencing shortages like nursing.”

State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “This investment is essential to the health, safety and protection of New Yorkers. This will give residents opportunities to receive an education in the health field to advance their careers and increase access to trained health, mental health, and social care professionals, leading to better health outcomes.”

Director of the New York State Medicaid Program Amir Bassiri said, “Access to training and opportunities for career mobility are part of Medicaid’s strategic plan to address health equity and address shortages for essential Medicaid providers. These funds will support recruitment of new professionals and establish career advancement opportunities with a focus on health equity.”

Through the CPT program, the WIOs will address statewide workforce shortages by subsidizing education and training services to provide holistic educational and professional placement support for New Yorkers in the program who are newly entering the workforce or advancing their careers.

Hochul’s team said, “Participants of the CPT program must fall under one of the eligible titles specified in the waiver and make a three-year service commitment in their new professional title to Medicaid providers that serve at least 30% of Medicaid members and/or uninsured individuals. Career training will be organized to support both new careers in health, mental health, and social care and career advancement in these fields.

“The CPT program is a key initiative under the New York Health Equity Reform waiver amendment, which includes approximately $7.5 billion – including nearly $6 billion in federal funding – for waiver initiatives, including the CPT program, through 2027. More information can be found under the MRT 1115 Waiver Amendments tab.

“In addition to investing in the next generation of New York’s health care workers, Gov. Hochul has continued to support current health care workers who provide the services that so many New Yorkers rely on.

“Earlier this week, the governor announced that New York state has paid over $2 billion in bonuses to more than 800,000 health care workers statewide through the health care worker bonus program. The program was launched by Gov. Hochul in 2022 and provided bonuses of up to $3,000 for eligible health care workers across New York.

“That program issued payments to workers who provide hands-on and patient-facing health care services. Workers who received payments through the program must have an annualized base salary, excluding any bonuses or overtime pay, of $125,000 or less and can be full-time or part-time.”

State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal said, “If it was not already abundantly clear, the pandemic proved that health care workers and mental health professionals are absolutely essential to a thriving New York state. I applaud Gov. Hochul, Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins and Speaker Heastie for dedicating almost $650 million to recruit and train thousands of new health, mental health and social care workers, as well as offer career advancement programs to those currently working in these industries. This historic investment will help ensure that all New Yorkers have access to the high-quality health and mental health services that they deserve.”