This week, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) began
issuing $1 billion in one-time worker retention payments to
eligible workers who worked part- or full-time at qualifying
hospitals and skilled nursing facilities during the COVID-19
public health emergency. As reported in a
prior CSAC bulletin, these payments were authorized in a 2022
budget trailer bill to help stabilize and retain the state’s
health care workforce while continuing to manage the COVID-19
pandemic.
BACKGROUND: More than 832,000 individuals
who worked at qualifying hospitals and skilled nursing facilities
will receive a payment from DHCS:
The $1 billion is being paid out to 3,424 hospitals and
skilled nursing facilities that applied on behalf of 788,000
eligible workers, including independent physicians and physicians
who are part of a physician group.
In addition, 205 Covered Services Employers, who provide
onsite services, such as clerical, dietary, environmental,
laundry, security, engineering, facilities management,
administrative, and billing, will receive a total of $46 million
for disbursement to 44,000 eligible workers.
PAYMENT DETAILS: Eligible full-time,
non-physician workers may receive up to a maximum state payment
of $1,500, part-time non-physician workers may receive up to a
maximum state payment of $1,250, and eligible physicians will
receive $1,000.
For more information about Hospital and Skilled Nursing Facility
COVID-19 Worker Retention Payments, including links to the list
of payment issue dates and updated FAQs, visit the DHCS
website or email DHCS at wrp@dhcs.ca.gov.
