Governor Hochul Announces $646 Million to Boost Healthcare Workforce

On Thursday, August 15th, Governor Kathy Hochul announced a significant investment of $646 million aimed at recruiting and training thousands of new healthcare, mental health, and social care workers across New York State. This initiative, funded through the Career Pathways Training (CPT) Program, is designed to address the state’s critical workforce shortages in these sectors. The program will also provide career advancement opportunities for current healthcare workers.

At the announcement, Governor Hochul said, “The health of every New Yorker depends on a strong, stable, and equitable healthcare system, and healthcare 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.”

The investment will be distributed among three Workforce Investment Organizations (WIOs) — 1199SEIU Training and Employment Funds, Iroquois Healthcare Association, and the Finger Lakes Performing Provider System. These organizations will spearhead efforts to recruit new workers, support participants with educational resources, and facilitate job readiness and placement. The funding is part of Governor Hochul’s broader plan to strengthen New York’s healthcare system, supported by an amendment to New York’s Medicaid Section 1115 Waiver.

Governor Hochul emphasized the importance of a strong and equitable healthcare system, noting that the investment will help retain and grow the workforce necessary to provide high-quality care to New Yorkers. The CPT Program will also include outreach efforts to ensure that educational and professional support reaches both new entrants to the workforce and those seeking career advancement within the healthcare field.

The announcement has garnered support from various officials and organizations. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer praised the initiative, highlighting the benefits it will bring to New York’s healthcare workforce and economy. He 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. I’ve worked hard to secure federal investments in our health care system through the American Rescue Plan, and I’m grateful for Governor Hochul’s commitment to strengthening our health care workforce.”

Representatives from different regions of the state, including Jerry Nadler and Nydia Velázquez, echoed this sentiment, stressing the program’s potential to provide new job opportunities and enhance healthcare delivery across the state.

As part of the state’s ongoing efforts to support healthcare workers, Governor Hochul announced that over $2 billion in bonuses have been distributed to over 800,000 healthcare workers since 2022. This latest investment underscores New York’s commitment to building a resilient and diverse healthcare workforce capable of meeting the needs of its residents.