To Health Commissioner Mary T. Bassett, M.D., M.P.H.,

The NYS Healthcare Worker Bonus program states, “Employers should submit claims for individuals they employ directly. If employed or contracted by a staffing agency or other intermediary entities, contracted or temporary staffing agency are not eligible for the HWB program”. 

This is highly problematic and an egregious offense to professionals who provide rehabilitation services and stand side by side with direct hire employees, risking our safety and well-being just the same. We as frontline, agency contracted healthcare workers, (namely, occupational therapy practitioners, physical therapy practitioners, and speech therapists) have dedicated our time, energy and efforts to care for the needs of all patients since the inception of the Covid-19 pandemic.  In fact, when Department of Health surveys facilities, there is no distinction between agency or direct hires. Therefore, we demand to be respected with equally appropriate compensation as our counterparts.  

Contracted rehabilitation services are the fabric of and make a significant contribution to the recovery process of covid patients among other conditions. Numerous of which have held long standing positions prior to the pandemic, throughout the height of the pandemic, and continue to be of service at qualified Medicaid and Medicare facilities.  Not to be confused with traveling providers, the front line has many holes without our services.

         If the intent of this program is in fact healthcare worker retention, we urge you to reassess and revise this program to include agency contractors in the HWB program as we deserve. This is the rightful approach to address this matter.

        Thank you for your attention. We look forward to a positive resolution.