Hochul proposes $10B to bolster health care workforce in New York

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) pledged to put $10 billion toward boosting the state’s health care workforce and other concerns as the state grapples with surging COVID-19 infections.

Hochul discussed the plan in her state of the state speech delivered Wednesday in the State Assembly, announcing that New York would “will make the largest investment in health care in state history, $10 billion dollars” in order to “bolster our bone-tired health care workforce.”

“Simply put, we must build the health care system of tomorrow,” the state of the state report added.

“To do that, Gov. Hochul will make more than a $10 billion, multiyear investment in health care, including more than $4 billion to support wages and bonuses for health care workers.”

The governor added that the state would aim to grow its health care workforce by 20 percent over the next five years.

Last month, the governor reduced the time required for health care workers to quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19. Her announcement followed similar guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to shorten the quarantine time for some COVID-19 infections in an effort to combat staffing shortages.

“The health of every New Yorker depends on a strong, stable, and equitable health care system and health care workers are its very foundation. Bold action is required — before any more time passes,” Hochul said on Wednesday. 

In addition to the significant funding for the health care industry, her proposal attempted to address other issues including support for small businesses, gun violence and affordable housing.

Her proposals come as the latest data available from the state’s health department showed 77,859 positive COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, an uptick in infections fueled by the highly contagious omicron variant.