CMS Issues Civil Money Penalty Reinvestment Program Revisions

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued Memorandum QSO-23-23-NHs outlining structural changes to the Civil Money Penalty Reinvestment Program (CMPRP).

The CMPRP had been paused while CMS developed changes to the program to better define Civil Money Penalty (CMP) application criteria, clarify allowable and non-allowable uses of CMP funds, and establish funding maximums.

Key structural changes include:

• Allowable Uses of CMP Funds
  • Adds maximum funding limits for projects, which apply to all new and pending applications
• Non-Allowable Uses of CMP Funds
  • Updates the list of non-allowable uses of CMP funds

Additional changes to the CMPRP include:

• Ensuring Internet Access for Residents: CMS is requesting that any nursing home that does not have broadband, facility-wide, wireless internet (Wi-Fi) access for residents complete a Wi-Fi Questionnaire and submit the form to CMS by Dec. 22.  CMS will assess the number of facilities without Wi-Fi for residents to determine if CMP funds can be used to address this issue.  
• Workforce: CMS will no longer accept Nursing Workforce applications for CMP funding to avoid duplication with their planned national nursing workforce in nursing homes campaign. 

• Mental and Behavioral Health: CMS will also not accept applications similar to their work with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to launch a national Center of Excellence. 

Although the revised CMPRP application materials have been updated, the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) anticipates further clarification from CMS.  The Minnesota CMP Committee will meet to review these changes, and revisions will be forthcoming to any Minnesota Civil Money Penalty (CMP) Initiative materials and Request for Proposals (RFPs) for CMP grant projects.

If you previously applied for CMP funding and have not yet received an official approval or denial, DHS will be reaching out to you to discuss the impact the new guidelines will have on your proposal and the next steps, if any, based on the revised federal CMP funding criteria.

You can direct any questions about the Minnesota CMP Initiative to Munna Yasiri, Compliance & Intergovernmental Relations Director, Nursing Facility Rates & Policy Division, Minnesota Department of Human Services.

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