Nursing Home Grant Program: Application Guidelines and Resources

Funds may be granted to a nursing home or organization for approved CMP projects to protect or improve the quality of life or quality of care for residents in federally certified nursing homes.

Examples of eligible organizations may include federally certified nursing homes, consumer advocacy organizations, resident or family councils, state agencies, and academic institutions. More information on who may apply for the use of CMP funds can be found on the CMS Civil Money Penalty Reinvestment Program webpage.

Representatives from any group requesting funding or representatives who are in situations where a conflict of interest exists are disqualified from making recommendations.

Funding caps are in place for all CMPRP project categories. See the QSO-25-26-NH (PDF) for more information. Nursing homes must acknowledge, in a letter of support signed by a person authorized to commit facility funds (administrator), that the funds they request as part of a CMPRP proposal count against their funding cap in the funding category during the specific funding period.

More information about eligibility and project criteria, including allowable and non-allowable uses, may be found on the CMS Civil Money Penalty Reinvestment Program webpage and in the memo QSO-25-26-NH (PDF).

Wisconsin accepts CMPRP grant applications throughout the year. The Division of Quality Assurance (DQA) reviews the project proposal to determine if it meets CMS CMPRP requirements. Complete and viable applications are scheduled for review by the Quality Assurance and Improvement Committee (QAIC).

The QAIC typically meets quarterly in January, April, July, and October to consider applications for state CMPRP grant funding. Complete applications must be received at least one month prior to a QAIC meeting in order to be considered by the committee (allowing for review and potential corrections).

The QAIC will determine if your proposal materials comply with CMS CMPRP requirements. The committee can accept or reject a proposal, or it can accept or reject part of a proposal. Proposals must follow the instructions provided or else the proposal may be rejected.

The QAIC may request reports to assess the financial stability of an applicant. Proposals may be rejected if the applicant does not have financial stability.

When the application satisfies requirements, the QAIC committee will request approval from CMS. If CMS approves the request, a contract will be completed that outlines terms and conditions such as vendor obligations, deliverables, and payment terms. CMPRP grant recipients will be required to make project reports to the committee at least every three months for the duration of the project, unless the committee decides otherwise.

If your nursing home receives CMPRP grant funds, you must let other eligible Wisconsin nursing homes replicate your quality of care and quality of life efforts for residents.

Download and read CMS CMPRP application information before applying for CMPRP funds. Application guidance and resources are located on the CMS Civil Money Penalty Reinvestment Program webpage and in the memo QSO-25-26-NH (PDF).

Email complete applications to the Division of Quality Assurance Civil Money Penalty Reinvestment Program/Nursing Home Grant Program at dhsdqacmprp@dhs.wisconsin.gov.

If you are submitting an application on behalf of nursing home(s), required letters of support from each nursing home must include the following:

• a signature from the nursing home administrator.
• the facility’s CCN.
• a statement acknowledging that the funding request counts against the facility’s maximum funding cap for that project category.

An example of a letter of support is included in the CMS CMPRP application manual available on the CMS Civil Money Penalty Reinvestment Program webpage.

CMS administers the CMPRP in cooperation with states. CMP funds originate from monetary penalties charged to nursing homes that are found non-compliant with long-term care rules. CMP funds may be used for a variety of efforts to benefit nursing home residents; to protect or improve their quality of care or quality of life.

CMS has rules for using CMP funds. Information about allowable and non-allowable uses of CMP funds may be found in the following resources:

• CMS Civil Money Penalty Reinvestment Program - background information and resource downloads.
• QSO-25-26-NH (PDF) - information about project categories and category funding limits.

CMS recently launched a national campaign to increase the number of nurses working in nursing homes in response to feedback from nursing home staff and residents that characterizes staffing as a significant impact on quality of resident care.

CMS will partner with state agencies to use Civil Money Penalty funds to offer financial incentives to recruit RNs/LPNs to work in nursing homes and state inspection agencies.

• Qualified RNs and LPNs will receive up to $40,000 for tuition reimbursement and/or a $10,000 stipend in return for working three years in a qualifying nursing home or state inspection agency.
  • Recipients will need to work for three years, either: In a qualifying nursing home (high labor-shortage area); or for a state agency as a nursing home surveyor.
  • RNs receive a payment every three months until the three-year work commitment is fulfilled.
  • New RNs without loan debt are still eligible for the stipend.
• CMS will create financial incentive administrators (FIAs) who will engage in distribute the funds to RNs/LPNs, verify their work status, and work with nursing homes and state agencies to fill their staffing vacancies.

More information about the nursing home staffing campaign may be found on the CMS Nursing Home Staffing Campaign page.