Special Projects Fund

Project Title

Using Information to Maximize Workforce Incentive Programs

Grant Amount

$147,580

Priority Area

Special Projects Fund

Date Awarded

December 12, 2022

Region

Capital Region

Statewide

Status

Closed

Website

https://www.chwsny.org/

Marginalized communities, including low-income and rural communities and communities of color, have less access to an adequate supply of trained health care providers and high-quality care.

New York is among the states with the highest numbers of federally-designated health care provider and primary care facility shortage areas. State and federal agencies have developed service obligation programs as incentives meant to encourage providers to work in shortage areas, but these programs are underused for two main reasons: (1) the process to apply and maintain eligibility is complex; and (2) there is a lack of easily accessible public information about shortage areas and associated incentive program eligibility. In 2022, NYHealth awarded the Center for Health Workforce Studies (CHWS), through fiscal sponsor Health Research, Inc., a grant to build and launch an online portal to improve access to information about health care shortage areas and workforce incentive programs that encourage health care providers to practice in underserved communities.

Under this grant, CHWS featured up-to-date information about shortage designations and incentive programs in its online portal. Live newsfeeds and searchable tools offered real-time information that helped providers complete their applications and helped organizations develop recruitment strategies. The portal shortened CHWS’s response time to questions about designations and incentive programs and house user-friendly tools for applicants. CHWS engaged a range of partners to promote the portal and raise awareness among hospital recruiters, schools, and other training programs. CHWS also provided technical assistance to up to 250 providers and organizations. Ultimately, the goal is that the portal and technical assistance fostered greater willingness among providers to apply for and participate in incentive programs, which in turn led to increased primary care access for New Yorkers.