Healthcare Workers In California Are Getting $1K-$1500 Bonus Checks, Here's How

Image: SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West Union

Nurses in California are receiving bonus checks. The one-time Healthcare Worker Retention Payment (HWRP) disbursements are a gesture from the state and Governor Newsom to thank them for their efforts during the pandemic.

The California Legislature approved these payments to support the retention of the state's healthcare workers. Here's a breakdown of who qualifies.

What is the Healthcare Worker Retention Plan (HWRP) in California?

In reaction to the COVID-19 epidemic, Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation last year to stabilize and promote healthcare worker retention. The solution included a $1.3 billion allocation for retention payments for clinical and non-clinical healthcare personnel.

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The payments will be distributed by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) through the Hospital and Skilled Nursing Facility COVID-19 Worker Retention Payment Program (WRP). 

The WRP payments will be made first to qualifying business entities, who will then pass the monies on to individual nurses, physicians, and other healthcare workers. California organizations must have registered with the state and supplied specific information to DHCS last year in order to receive WRP money.

In addition to the WRP, qualified clinic employees may receive a payment under the Clinic Workforce Stabilization Retention Payments program. 

Hospital and Skilled Nursing Facility COVID-19 Payments

On June 30, 2022, Hospital and Skilled Nursing Facility COVID-19 Payments were authorized (see section 37). This WRP will issue payments to workers in 24-hour care sites, including:

• General inpatient hospitals

• Psychiatric hospitals

• Nursing homes

• Skilled nursing facilities

Under this program, healthcare workers may receive $1000–$1500. 

Clinic Workforce Stabilization Payments

A separate program is awarding retention payments to non-hospital employees. On September 29, 2022,  Clinic Workforce Stabilization Payments were mandated (see section 19) for certain non-management workers of qualified community health clinics. This program awards $1000 to eligible workers.

Payments for both programs have already been disbursed and are expected to reach workers by June.

Why are Nurses Receiving it?

A statement by DHCS says that these payments are intended to help stabilize and retain the state’s healthcare workforce while continuing to manage the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Image: SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West Union

“These payments are for health care workers who have been at the frontlines delivering care to the most acute patients during the COVID-19 pandemic,” DHCS Director Michelle Baass said in a press release. “We owe them a debt of gratitude for caring for the sickest and most vulnerable among us during the worst public health emergency of our lifetime.”

Who Qualifies for HWRP?

Under the Hospital and Skilled Nursing Facility COVID-19 Payments program, more than 832,000 individuals will receive payments. Among those who are eligible, include the following on-site workers:

• Nurses

• Doctors

• Dietary personnel

• Clerical workers

• Environmental Services workers

• Laundry personnel

• Engineering employees

• Facilities Management

• Administration personnel

• Billing personnel

Notably, managers and supervisors are ineligible for payments. 

Workers and physicians of hospitals and skilled nursing facilities will be eligible to receive a retention payment if they:

• Were employed at least part-time during the 91-day qualifying work period of July 30, 2022 through October 28, 2022​.

• Stayed with their covered employers

How Much is the Worker Retention Payment?

Under the Hospital and Skilled Nursing Facility COVID-19 Payments program, full-time employees will earn a $1,000 one-time incentive. Anyone who is either recognized as a full-time employee working onsite or who was paid for at least 400 in-person hours in a 91-day period between July 29 and October 28, 2022 is considered full-time.

Image: SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West Union

Part-time employees will earn a $750 one-time incentive. Part-time is defined as someone who is not a full-time employee who was paid for 100 to 400 in-person hours between July 29, 2022 and October 28, 2022.

There is also the prospect of an additional $500 in incentive cash per worker if the state matches an employer-provided bonus. In other words, full-time employees may receive up to $1,500 and part-time employees may receive up to $1,250.

Physicians are eligible for a $1,000 retention payment under the plan. 

Which Facilities Qualify for Retention Payments?

According to the DHCS press release, 3,629 hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and covered employers applied on behalf of 832,000 eligible workers.

DHCS published a list of entities and physicians who successfully registered for worker retention payments as of October 30, 2022. This list was last updated November 7, 2022. Businesses and facilities who registered include:

• 12072 TRASK, INC. 

• 200 LIGHTHOUSE, LLC 

• 2210 SANTA ANA OPCO, LLC 

• 7400 24TH STREET, LLC 

• A.B.R.H., INC. 

• Ahmed Elrefaie

• Alameda Healthcare & Wellness Center, LLC

• Alexander Hoang MD Inc

• Alhambra Healthcare & Wellness Centre, LP

• ALMADEN OPERATING COMPANY LP 

• Amandeep Singh

• Amelia's Medical Corporation

• AMERICAN HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT CORPORATION 

• ANAHEIM GLOBAL MEDICAL CENTER, INC. 

• Anaheim Point Healthcare & Wellness Centre, LP

• Andrew Fischer MD Prof Corp

• ANTELOPE VALLEY HEALTHCARE DISTRICT 

• ARARAT HOME OF LOS ANGELES, INC. 

• ARCADIA CARE CENTER, LLC 

• AURORA CHARTER OAK - LOS ANGELES, LLC 

• AURORA LAS ENCINAS, LLC 

• BAKERSFIELD BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE HOSPITAL, LLC 

• Bakersfield Healthcare & Wellness Centre, LLC

• BALDWIN GARDENS NURSING CENTER CORPORATION 

• BARLOW RESPIRATORY HOSPITAL 

• Bay Vista Healthcare & Wellness Centre, LP

• B-East, LLC

• Beverly Care

• BEVERLY COMMUNITY HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION 

• BHC ALHAMBRA HOSPITAL, INC. 

• BHC FREMONT HOSPITAL, INC. 

• BH-SD OPCO LLC 

• Bismark Oh

• BLUFF ENTERPRISES, INC. 

• Brookdale Healthcare & Wellness Centre, LP

• B-San Diego, LLC

• B-Spring Valley, LLC

• CALIFORNIA CONVALESCENT HOSPITAL OF PASADENA, INC. 

• CAMBRIDGE SIERRA HOLDINGS, LLC 

• CANYON PROPERTIES III, LLC 

• CANYON RIDGE HOSPITAL, INC. 

• CASA COLOMA HOLDINGS, LLC 

• Centinela Assisted Living Management, LLC

• CENTINELA GRAND, INC. 

• Centinela Skilled Nursing & Wellness Centre East, LLC

• Centinela Skilled Nursing & Wellness Centre West, LLC

• CENTURY VILLA, INC. 

• Chad M Bernhardt MD A Professional Corp

• CHAPARRAL FOUNDATION 

• CHAPMAN GLOBAL MEDICAL CENTER, INC. 

• CHCM, INC. 

• CHHP HOLDINGS II, LLC 

• Chico Healthcare & Wellness Centre, LP

• Chico Heights Rehabilitation & Wellness Centre, LP

• Chico Terrace Healthcare & Wellness Centre, LP

• CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL LOS ANGELES 

• CHINESE HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION 

• CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST 

• CLEAR VIEW SANITARIUM, INC. 

• CNRC, LLC

• Colleen Ann Johnson, MD, Inc

• COLLEGE HOSPITAL INC. 

• Community Care Solutions, Inc dba Sunnyview Home

• COMMUNITY HOSPITAL OF THE MONTEREY PENINSULA 

• COMPREHENSIVE CARE OF OAKLAND, L.P. 

• CORONA HOSPITALIST MEDICAL GROUP INC

• COSTA MESA HEALTHCARE, INC, 

• COUNTY OF CONTRA COSTA 

• COUNTY OF SAN MATEO 

• Cupertino Healthcare & Wellness Center, LLC

• DANUBE RIVER HOLDINGS, LLC 

• DAVID KLEIS III, LLC 

• Delta Healthcare & Wellness Center LP

• Driftwood Healthcare & Wellness Center, LLC

• East Terrace Rehabilitation & Wellness Centre, LP

• Elaine Yang

• El Centro Regional Medical Center

• EL MONTE CONVALESCENT HOSPITAL 

• Emerald Health Services, Inc.

• Emergency Services Corporation Coronado

• Emergency Services Medical Corporation

• ENGLISH CHANNEL HOLDINGS, LLC 

• ENLOE MEDICAL CENTER 

• Eric A. Quimbo

• Erik A Berg

• Eureka Rehabilitation & Wellness Center, LP

• Faculty Physicians and Surgeons of LLUSM

• Felix Wong

• FLOWER VILLA, INC. 

• FOOTHILL NURSING COMPANY PARTNERSHIP 

• Fortuna Rehabilitation & Wellness Center, LP

• Four Seasons Assisted Living Center, LLC

• Four Seasons Healthcare & Wellness Center, LP

• Fredeking FNP Nursing Inc

• FRESNO COMMUNITY HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL CENTER 

• Fresno Skilled Nursing & Wellness Centre, LLC

• GARDEN CREST CONVALESCENT HOSPITAL, INC. 

• GARDEN GROVE CONVALESCENT, INC. 

• Gardenview Healthcare & Wellness Centre, LP

• Geoffrey M. Smith, M.D., Inc.

• GERI-CARE, INC. 

• Geri Care, V LLC dba Wellsprings Post-Acute Center

• GERI-CARE IV, LLC 

• GHC OF AUBURN, LLC 

• GHC OF CONTRA COSTA, LLC 

• GHC OF EL CAJON, LLC 

• GHC OF KEARNY MESA, LLC 

• GHC OF LAKESIDE, LLC 

• GHC OF LA MESA, LLC 

• GHC OF LOMPOC, LLC 

• GHC OF LOS GATOS, LLC 

• GHC OF MODESTO, LLC 

• GHC OF NATIONAL CITY I, LLC 

• GHC OF NATIONAL CITY II, LLC 

• GHC OF NEWPORT BEACH, LLC 

• GHC OF PLEASANTON, LLC 

• GHC OF SAC-SNF, LLC 

• GHC OF SAN FRAN 180, LLC 

• GHC OF SAN FRAN 68, LLC 

• GHC OF SAN JOSE, LLC 

• GHC OF SAN RAFAEL, LLC 

• GHC OF SANTEE, LLC 

• GHC OF SUNNYVALE, LLC 

• GHC OF TEM-SNF, LLC 

• GHC OF UPLAND, SNF, LLC 

• GHC OF WALNUT CREEK, LLC 

• GLENDORA GRAND, INC. 

• Global Care Solutions, Inc

• Golden Gate Radiology

• GOLETA VALLEY COTTAGE HOSPITAL 

• GOOD SAMARITAN HOSP, A CALIF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP 

• Granada Rehabilitation & Wellness Center, LP

• Grand Avenue Healthcare & Wellness Centre, LP

• GRANDCARE, INC. 

• Granite Hills Healthcare & Wellness Centre, LLC

• HACIENDA CARE CENTER, INC. 

• HARVARD CREEK POST ACUTE, LLC 

• HAVEN POST ACUTE, LLC. 

• Hawthorne Healthcare & Wellness Centre, LP

• Hayward Healthcare & Wellness Center, LLC

• Health Access For All Inc

• HERITAGE CARE, LLC 

• Highland Park Skilled Nursing & Wellness Centre, LLC

• HOAG MEMORIAL HOSPITAL PRESBYTERIAN 

• Imperial Heights Healthcare & Wellness Centre, LLC

• Indio Healthcare & Wellness Center, LLC

• INTERCOMMUNITY CARE CENTERS, INC. 

• J&T CARE, LLC 

• JC CARE, INC. 

• jeffrey farrell wade md, a pc

• Jeremy Estrada MD Incorporated

• JESS RANCH HEALTHCARE, LLC 

• Kings Healthcare & Wellness Center LP

• KPC Global Management, LLC

• KPC GLOBAL MEDICAL CENTERS, INC. 

• KPC Healthcare, Inc.

• KSM HEALTHCARE, INC. 

• Lags Recovery Centers, Inc

• LA MIRADA HEALTHCARE, LLC 

• LANCASTER HOSPITAL CORPORATION 

• Lawndale Healthcare & Wellness Centre, LLC

• Lewis Self

• LIFEHOUSE SAN DIEGO OPERATIONS, LLC 

• Loma Linda University Health Care

• LONG BEACH CARE CENTER, INC. 

• Los Angeles Congregate Living Inc.

• Los Feliz Healthcare & Wellness Centre, LP

• MARLORA INVESTMENTS, LLC 

• MARNA HEALTH SERVICES, INC. 

• MARTIN LUTHER KING JR HEALTHCARE CORPORATION 

• Mar Vista Country Villa Healthcare & Wellness Centre, LP

• MARYCREST MANOR 

• MARY HEALTH OF THE SICK CONVALESCENT & NURSING HOSPITAL INC 

• Maywood Skilled Nursing & Wellness Centre, LLC

• Mesa Verde Convalescent Hospital, Inc.

• MIRAMONTE ENTERPRISES, LLC 

• Mission Viejo Emergency Medical Associates

• Mission Viejo Emergency Medical Associates Inc

• MoGo Urgent Care

• Montclair Vida Health Clinic

• Montecito Heights Healthcare & Wellness Centre, LP

• Monterey Healthcare & Wellness Centre, LP

• MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES HEALTHCARE DISTRICT 

• Mountain View Child Care, Inc.

• MOUNT MEGIDDO, LLC 

• N2S Healthcare Staffing Solutions LLC

• North County Neurology Associates

• NORTH KERN SOUTH TULARE HOSPITAL DISTRICT 

• North Point Healthcare & Wellness Centre, LP

• Norwalk Skilled Nursing & Wellness Centre, LLC

• Novato Healthcare Center, LLC

• Oakland Healthcare & Wellness Center, LLC

• OCEAN PARK HEALTHCARE LLC 

• Ontario Grove Healthcare & Wellness Centre, LP

• ORANGE COUNTY GLOBAL MEDICAL CENTER, INC. 

• Orange Healthcare & Wellness Centre, LLC

• Overland Terrace Healthcare & Wellness Centre, LP

• Oxnard Manor, LP

• Pacific Hospitalist Associates

• PACIFIC PALMS HEALTHCARE, LLC 

• PACIFIC VILLA, INC. 

• PALO VERDE HEALTHCARE DISTRICT 

• Pavilion On Pico Healthcare & Wellness Centre, LP

• Pine Grove Healthcare & Wellness Centre, LP

• PIONEERS MEMORIAL HEALTHCARE DISTRICT 

• Point Loma Rehabilitation Center, LLC

• Pomona Healthcare & Wellness Center, LLC

• Princeton Manor Healthcare Center , LLC

• PRN CONVALESCENT HOSPITAL INC. 

• Ranvir Dhillon MD INC

• Rica Bonomo

• RICHMOND POST ACUTE CARE, LLC 

• RIDGECREST REGIONAL HOSPITAL 

• RIVER BEND HOLDINGS, LLC 

• Riverside Healthcare & Wellness Centre, LLC

• Riverside Medical Clinic, Inc.

• RIVERSIDE SNF, LLC 

• River Valley Healthcare & Wellness Centre, LP

• RIVIERA NURSING & CONVALESCENT HOME, INC. 

• Roseville Point Health & Wellness Center, LLC

• SAINT JOHN KRONSTADT HOME FOR AGED RUSSIAN-AMERICANS 

• San Gabriel Healthcare & Wellness Centre, LP

• SAN GORGONIO MEMORIAL HEALTHCARE DISTRICT 

• Sania Zubair

• San Jose Healthcare & Wellness Center, LLC

• SAN MARCOS OPERATING COMPANY, LP 

• San Marino Gardens Wellness Center, LP

• San Mateo Healthcare & Wellness Centre, LP

• San Pablo Healthcare & Wellness Center, LLC

• San Rafael Healthcare & Wellness Centre, LP

• Santa Ana Healthcare & Wellness Centre, LP

• SANTA BARBARA COTTAGE HOSPITAL 

• SANTA YNEZ VALLEY COTTAGE HOSPITAL INC 

• Seaview Rehabilitation & Wellness Center, LP

• Seneca Healthcare District

• SIERRA VIEW HOMES, INC. 

• SIERRA VIEW LOCAL HEALTH CARE DISTRICT 

• Skyline Healthcare & Wellness Center, LLC

• SO CAL POST ACUTE HOLDINGS, LLC 

• SONOMA VALLEY HEALTH CARE DISTRICT 

• SOUTH COAST GLOBAL MEDICAL CENTER, INC. 

• Southern California Emergency Medical Group

• Southern California Neurology Medical Group INC

• ST. JOHN'S VOLUNTEERS 

• St. Paul's Health Care Center

• SUNSET PARK HEALTHCARE, LLC 

• TAG-2 MEDICAL INVESTMENT GROUP, LLC 

• TARZANA TREATMENT CENTERS, INC. 

• TEMECULA VALLEY HOSPITAL INC. 

• Tender Care Community Clinic, Inc

• THE COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA 

• The Healthcare Center of Downey, LLC

• The Rehabilitation Center of Oakland, LLC 

• TORRANCE CARE CENTER WEST, INC. 

• TORRANCE POST ACUTE, LLC 

• TRI-CITY HOSPITAL DISTRICT 

• Tulare Healthcare & Wellness Center LP

• UHS-CORONA, INC. 

• United Health System, Inc.

• VALLEY VILLAGE CARE CENTER, LLC 

• Verdugo Valley Skilled Nursing & Wellness Centre, LLC

• Vernon Healthcare Center, LLC

• VICTOR VALLEY HOSPITAL ACQUISITION, INC 

• VIENNA CONVALESCENT HOSPITAL INC. 

• VILLA DEL RIO, INC. 

• VILLA SIENA 

• VISTA PACIFICA ENTERPRISES, INC. 

• WASHINGTON ENTERPRISES III, LLC 

• WEST ANAHEIM EXTENDED CARE 

• WEST COAST HOSPITALS, INC. 

• WEST GARDENA CARE CENTER, LLC 

• west haven healthcare center 

• West Hollywood Healthcare & Wellness Centre, LP

• West Pico Terrace Assisted Living Center, LP

• West Pico Terrace Healthcare & Wellness Centre, LP

• Westwood Healthcare & Wellness Centre, LP

• WINDFLOWER HOLDINGS, LLC 

• WINDSOR ANAHEIM HEALTHCARE, LTD 

• York Healthcare & Wellness Center, LP

Image: SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West Union

Frequently Asked Questions About California Healthcare Worker Retention Payments

Are the payments taxable?

The HWRP is not to be regarded as "wages" according to Hospital Technical Letter No. 35. It is considered "other payroll-related benefits." To address individual tax issues, the Department of Healthcare Services (DHCS) suggests consulting with a tax specialist. 

Can eligible employees opt out of receiving a retention payment?

Yes, but the state requires employees to opt out prior to their employer applying. The application window closed in 2022. In the future, the state will issue instructions on how to repay the money.

How will funds be disbursed to the employees? 

It is up to the employer's discretion how they will disburse payments. Some workers may receive their HWRP by direct deposit, others by check. 

If an employee no longer works at the qualifying facility, will they still receive the HWRP?

DHCS mandated that employers “should make every attempt to distribute the retention payment to the worker within 60 days of receipt of funds.” If the employer is unable to, they are directed to return the funds to DHCS.

Where can I find out more about the California Healthcare Worker Retention Payments?

Nurses and other healthcare workers can visit the DHCS website or email DHCS at wrp@dhcs.ca.gov for additional information about Hospital and Skilled Nursing Facility COVID-19 Worker Retention Payments.