Krista Steenbergen, a grant consultant to the Barren Fiscal Court, addresses ongoing work to finalize payouts to healthcare employees in Barren County who worked during the coronavirus pandemic. She issued the report at a special-called meeting of the court on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022.
(BRENNAN CRAIN/WCLU NEWS)
BY BRENNAN D. CRAIN, WCLU News
GLASGOW — Payouts will soon head to certain healthcare workers who applied for premium payments across Barren County.
Magistrates of the Barren Fiscal Court approved Thursday in a special meeting payments for 458 local healthcare workers to receive $950 each. Contracts expected to be sent to 44 different employers were also approved.
“As soon as they sign them and get them back, the checks can be issued,” said Krista Steenbergen, a grant consultant to the fiscal court.
Magistrates agreed to put forth $1 million toward the local healthcare sector from funding provided to the county through the American Rescue Plan Act. An initial round of payments went to a handful of healthcare workers earlier this year, but a decision by magistrates earlier this summer reopened the application process since many did not receive the payouts.
Steenbergen said over 900 names have accrued on a spreadsheet since the application reopened in August. Of those, 458 have been approved for premium pay. The application process closed Oct. 11.
Because the premium payments are subject to payroll taxes, healthcare employers will receive a lump sum of money from the county government to distribute to their employees eligible for the payouts.
“We don’t want it just setting out there forever and ever,” Steenbergen said. “We want it to do the good that it’s supposed to do.”
Contracts have been drafted for each of the 44 employers whose employees submitted applications. Those contracts were expected to be given to employers as soon as Thursday afternoon, and will require employers to add it to the checks of employees receiving the payouts.
A list will also be provided to employers so they know which employees are supposed to receive the money. Those payouts could be applied to individual checks as soon as the last pay period of the year.
Employees of pharmacies, doctor’s offices, assisted living facilities, long-term care facilities and urgent care offices, among others, are expected to receive a cut of the money.
