CMS issued a S&C memo providing information on the new webpage that it has created regarding Civil Monetary Penalty fund reinvestment support activities. Improving enforcement activities is a focus of the FY 2016- FY 2017 Nursing Home Action Plan, including improving enforcement policies by tracking the use of enforcement remedies by states, monitoring the use of the CMP Analytic Tool, and increasing the use of the Federal Civil Monetary Penalty Fund. Civil Monetary Penalty amounts were also adjusted for inflation in September.
With the recent emphasis on CMPs, that means there should be more funds available for activities including these:
- When a facility is closing, voluntarily or involuntarily, or is decertified, CMP funds may be used to provide assistance to support and protect residents. This includes offsetting costs for relocating residents to home or other care settings.
- Providing CMP funds for projects that support resident and family councils and/or other consumer involvement in assuring quality care
- Allocating funds to nursing homes who are engaging in facility improvement initiatives that have been approved by the Secretary. This includes technical assistance for facilities implementing QA programs, temporary management and joint surveyor-facility staff training sessions.
View the Civil Monetary Penalty Reinvestment Resource page on the CMS website, or read CMS S&C letter “Civil Monetary Penalty (CMP) Reinvestment Resource Web Page” Ref: S&C: 17-08-NH).