CMS Program to Offer RNs up to $50K Each to Work in Nursing Homes

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will offer nursing students up to $40,000 in tuition reimbursement and/or $10,000 outright to work for a nursing home or state survey agency, the agency said Wednesday afternoon in an email to stakeholders. 

In return, selected nurses will have to work three years for a qualifying provider or state. Both classes of employers have suffered extreme shortages of registered nurses in recent years.   

“Today, CMS gave SNFs an early Valentine’s Day gift,” said Amy Stewart, chief nursing officer for the American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing (AAPACN) in an email to McKnight’s Long-Term Care News. “I am delighted … I believe many individuals will take advantage of this offer. I look forward to seeing the nurse recruitment webpage when it is launched for more details.”  

Wednesday’s announcement was officially issued as a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for groups that would oversee the verification of candidates and distribution of funds. It comes on the heels of CMS’ Dec. 16 unveiling of a new nursing home staffing campaign to help providers and state inspection agencies recruit and educate nurses.  

“Registered nurses are in short supply throughout the healthcare sector. For nursing homes to be able to compete for in-demand employees, initiatives such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ financial incentives program announced today, are critical,” said LeadingAge spokeswoman Lisa Sanders in comments emailed to McKnight’s. “More than 20,000 RNs will be needed for nursing homes to meet the staffing mandate in the first full year of implementation. This is good news and we’re eager to learn more about it!”  

Eligible applicants for the grant program are nonprofit nursing and educational organizations, such as national associations for nursing schools, nurses, or nursing students, CMS said. 

The agency said it expects to issue 10 groups awards, and will spend up to $20 million on the program, but no less than $5 million.  

It is accepting applications through March 7.  

The Nursing Homes Division of CMS said it will host a webinar for eligible organizations only, as well as a separate webinar for nursing home stakeholders, at dates to be determined.  

“We’re excited to advance this staffing campaign to help increase the number of nurses in nursing homes and state survey agencies, ultimately improving the quality of care that nursing home residents receive,” its email announcing the new funding stream to stakeholders said.  

Questions about the nursing home staffing campaign can be sent to NHSC@cms.hhs.gov.  

It was introduced at the time CMS issued its final rule on the nursing home minimum staffing mandate but is not an element of it, officials have emphasized. Instead, the campaign is a complementary push to aid providers and regulators struggling with nursing shortages.  

Source: McKnights Long-Term Care News