The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has published an FAQ that answers common questions about the health care worker retention bonuses authorized under legislation recently signed by Governor Newsom to stabilize and retain California’s health care workforce and recognize the sacrifices our health care workers have made over the course of the pandemic

The bill, signed on June 30, 2022, provides $1.3 billion to provide a financial stipend for every individual working in eligible hospital settings, including physicians. Health care worker retention bonuses will be available to employees of hospitals, clinics that are 1206(l)s and affiliated with a hospital, and skilled nursing facilities and physicians who work in those facilities during the eligibility period, which runs from July 30-October 28, 2022. Physicians who provide patient care in hospitals or work as a member of the patient care team during the qualifying work period will be eligible for a bonus of $1000.

(Please note, DHCS may reduce the payment amounts if the total amount based on the number of eligible employees and physician exceeds the total funding provided by the state.)

For more information, see the DHCS FAQ, which will be updated regularly. Details on the application submission process will be released over the coming weeks.​