COVID-related incentive payments to health care workers

Introduction/Objective. The study estimates the associations between the key pandemic indicators and the allocation of COVID-19 related bonus and welfare payments to Russian health care workers. The aim was to estimate the association between the key pandemic indicators and the allocation of the COVID-19 related bonus and welfare payments to Russian health workers. Methods. The study uses regression analysis. Results. The study examines two consecutive types of COVID-19 related bonus payments: (1) incentive payments (in 2020) and (2) welfare payments (in 2020-2022). Concerning incentive payments (type 1), the study supports hypotheses regarding the association between the number of persons infected with COVID-19 in a relevant region and the actual/estimated amount of budget transfers to a relevant region for bonus payments to medical workers (a) for special working conditions and additional workload and (b) for performing particularly important work. As for welfare payments (type 2), the study supports hypotheses regarding the association between (1) COVID-19 cases, (2) COVID-19 recoveries, and (3) the fiscal year close-out and the amount of welfare payments. Conclusion. The main channel for financing payments to medical workers is a special welfare payment through the system of the Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation. This source exceeds the estimated total transfers and subsidies for similar purposes in 2020. The study tests hypotheses regarding the association between the key pandemic indicators and the size of various types of budget transfers for bonus and welfare payments to medical workers.