The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) began issuing $1 billion in one-time retention payments to physicians and others who worked part- or full-time at qualifying hospitals and skilled nursing facilities during the COVID-19 public health emergency. More than 832,000 individuals who worked at qualifying hospitals and skilled nursing facilities will receive a payment from DHCS.

The California Medical Association (CMA) advocated for these payments, which were authorized in the 2022-23 state budget, to help to stabilize and retain California’s health care workforce and recognize the sacrifices our health care workers made over the course of the pandemic. CMA also assisted many physician practices in applying for the funds.

For more information about the health care worker retention payments, click here.