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. The announcement, which was made on August 15, is made possible through the Governor’s 1115 New York Health Equity Reform Waiver approved in January.
This comes after Governor Kathy Hochul announced the day before that health care workers throughout New York State received more than $2 billion in bonuses.
“The health of every New Yorker depends on a strong, stable, and equitable health care system, and health care workers are its very foundation,” Governor 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.
The funding awarded to these Workforce Investment Organizations is possible because Governor Hochul 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.”
“We have lost many caregivers over the past few years leading to critical staffing shortages across the continuum of care,” added 1199SEIU Secretary-Treasurer Milly Silva, who called this an “historic investment to rebuild this workforce.”
Dr. James McDonald, the state’s health commissioner, 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.”
“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,” Amir Bassiri, the director of the New York State Medicaid Program, said. “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.
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 percent 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.
“As we continue to face an unprecedented demand for health services, Governor Hochul’s investment in our health care workforce is a timely and essential initiative,” Assemblymember Michaelle C. Solages (D-Valley Stream) said. “By recruiting and training thousands of new workers and creating new career pathways for current health, mental health and social care professionals, this funding will help build a stronger, more resilient health care system across New York State. By supporting the Career Pathways Training program, we can ensure equitable access to quality care while supporting the dedicated individuals who provide it.”
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