Nurses Across NY Q&A Document Posted Along with Updated SOI

The State has issued Questions and Answers (Q&A) for the Nurses Across New York (NANY) Solicitation of Interest (SOI) and updated the SOI to clarify that nurse practitioners are not eligible and provide updated statutory references to home care for the purposes of defining eligibility. Those changes are in red text in the updated document.

The Q&A document largely refers back to the SOI; however, there are some highlights and themes that we want to draw your attention to. For the purposes of eligibility, the person must be working full time in clinical practice as a registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN). The Q&A document provides more information regarding how ‘full time’ is defined. In addition, the document points applicants to Attachment 5 for information on how to demonstrate and document the three-year commitment. The Q&A also addresses the obligation if the nurse leaves without fulfilling the three-year commitment. As stated in Attachment 9, the financial penalty is always assessed against the individual or organization that is a party to the NANY grant contract. Therefore, if the grantee is the health care facility and the nurse leaves prematurely (electively or is separated for cause), the health care institution is responsible for the repayment of the NANY grant and any/all default penalties.

The above are just highlights from the Q&A document; members are encouraged to review the document if applying.

Background on SOI

As a reminder, the purpose of the NANY program is to help address the nursing shortage through a loan repayment program. Applications are due by April 12, 2023.

Awards will provide up to $25,000 for an RN or $10,000 for an LPN who agrees to practice in an underserved area for the three-year NANY service obligation period. Funds can be awarded to:

1. RNs licensed to practice under Section 6905 of the Education Law and LPNs licensed under Section 6906 of the Education Law; or
2. a health care facility to recruit or retain a nurse by providing the nurse funds to repay qualifying outstanding debt. In all cases, 100 percent of the funds ultimately must be distributed to the nurse.

Eligibility

A nurse who seeks a NANY award to repay educational debt must have an employment contract or offer letter with a health care facility requiring the nurse to provide services for at least the entire NANY service obligation period. The documents outline the definition of “health care facility” to include a variety of providers, including but not limited to nursing homes, licensed home care services agencies (LHCSAs), certified home health agencies (CHHAs), diagnostic and treatment centers, and other facilities overseen by other State agencies.

A health care facility is eligible for a NANY award for the period of Aug. 1, 2023 to July 31, 2026 to provide a nurse with funds to repay outstanding educational debt, if meeting certain eligibility requirements. The term "health care facility" again includes a variety of providers, including but not limited to nursing homes, LHCSAs, CHHAs, diagnostic and treatment centers, and other facilities overseen by other State agencies.

There are a variety of criteria that the individual must also meet to be eligible, including but not limited to that the services that the nurse will provide under the employment contract must constitute full-time clinical practice. The health care facility or practice where the nurse will be employed must be located in an underserved area, as defined in Attachment 6 (Tool to Identify an Underserved Area) of the SOI.

Funding Details

The loan repayment funds will be distributed to a successful applicant as follows: 30 percent of the total award for the first year, 30 percent of the total award for the second year, and any unpaid balance of the total award not to exceed the maximum award amount for the third year. The allocation of funding is anticipated to be as follows:

1. Approximately 50 percent of funding will be allocated to newly licensed nurses (i.e., those who have been licensed for two years or less).
2. Approximately 50 percent of funding will be allocated to nurses who have been licensed for two to five years.
3. Nurses licensed for five years or more may be eligible if funding is available after initial awards are made.

Individuals and organizations interested in this opportunity should review the application carefully.

Contact: Diane Darbyshire, ddarbyshire@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8828