State Announces WIOs Awarded to Implement Career Pathways Training Program
(Aug. 20, 2024) Last week, Governor Hochul announced that three Workforce Investment Organizations (WIOs) will receive awards totaling up to $646 million over the next three years to implement the Career Pathways Training (CPT) Program, which will recruit and train thousands of new health, mental health, and social care workers across the state. The program will also provide new career advancement opportunities to many current health care workers throughout the state. The WIO awardees are the 1199SEIU Training and Employment Funds, the Iroquois Healthcare Association, and the Finger Lakes Performing Provider System (PPS). The workforce investment initiative is part of the 1115 NY Health Equity Reform Waiver approved in January.
As the designated WIOs under the CPT Program, the 1199SEIU Training and Employment Funds, the Iroquois Healthcare Association, and the Finger Lakes PPS 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.
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 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.
Eligible health care titles:
Nursing
- Licensed Practical Nurse
- Associate Registered Nurse
- Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Nurse Practitioners
Professional Technical
- Physician Assistant
- Licensed Mental Health Counselor
- Master of Social Work
- Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor
- Certified Pharmacy Technician
- Certified Medical Assistant
- Respiratory Therapist
Frontline Public Health Workers
- Community Health Workers
- Patient Care Managers
NY's Medicaid Section 1115 Demonstration Waiver will allow the State to invest roughly $6 billion of federal funding into its health care system over the next three years. The waiver amendment is now establishing Social Care Networks (SCNs) 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.
While LeadingAge NY is concerned that the waiver does not do enough to serve older New Yorkers and support and bolster the long-term care sector, there may still be a role for members to create partnerships with the SCNs and deliver social care benefits to eligible Medicaid enrollees. A previous Intelligence article on the waiver’s SCN program is available here. LeadingAge NY staff are also connecting with the WIOs to learn more about training opportunities and potential partnerships under the CPT Program to ensure that the long-term care provider field benefits from this initiative.
Please review previous Intelligence articles on the 1115 Waiver, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS) approval letter of the waiver amendment, a Department of Health (DOH) slide deck on the 1115 Waiver, and LeadingAge New York's comment letter on the 1115 waiver.
Contact: Meg Everett, meverett@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8871