Nursing Home Staffing Campaign

The Nursing Home Staffing Campaign is a federally funded initiative launched by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), specifically through its Center for Clinical Standards and Quality (CCSQ). This campaign addresses a persistent issue in the U.S. healthcare system—insufficient nursing staff in nursing homes. By offering cooperative agreements to qualified nonprofit organizations, CMS aims to significantly bolster the availability of licensed nurses in nursing homes and within state inspection agencies. This funding opportunity is driven by CMS's commitment to improving both the quality of care and safety in long-term care facilities, where staffing shortages directly affect resident well-being. The primary purpose of the campaign is to administer financial incentives—including loan repayment and living stipends—to Registered Nurses (RNs) and Licensed Practical Nurses or Licensed Vocational Nurses (LPNs). These incentives are contingent upon a three-year work commitment in qualifying nursing homes or in oversight roles within state agencies. Award recipients, known as Financial Incentive Administrators (FIAs), will be responsible for managing the recruitment and support infrastructure, vetting applicants, disbursing payments, and ensuring nurses meet the program's work requirements. Each selected FIA may be assigned to one or more of six defined U.S. regions, with responsibilities varying based on the type of nurse and regional need. The available funding totals up to $80 million, and CMS anticipates making 5 to 10 awards. Individual award ranges fall between $1.76 million and $20 million over a five-year performance period, structured into five 12-month budget periods. Approximately 85% of funding is expected to go toward direct financial incentives, with the remainder allocated for administrative costs. CMS estimates funds should be allocated in the following proportions: 30% to LPNs, 50% to two-year RNs, and 20% to four-year RNs. Incentives include student loan repayments up to $40,000 and stipends of $10,000, adjusted by region using CMS wage indices. Payments will be disbursed quarterly over the three-year commitment. Eligibility is restricted to nonprofit organizations with demonstrable reach and experience across multiple states, particularly those working with hundreds of nursing schools and thousands of nurses. This includes educational institutions, national nursing associations, and community-based nonprofits. Entities such as individual nursing homes, state agencies, and government-owned organizations are not eligible. Applicants must demonstrate national coverage capacity and an ability to support financial incentives across all 50 states. Partnerships between institutions of higher education and other eligible entities are permitted to extend geographic coverage. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, March 27, 2026. A letter of intent is optional but encouraged by February 20, 2026, and an informational webinar will be held on February 25, 2026. CMS expects to make awards by June 15, 2026, with project periods beginning as early as July 1, 2026. Application components include a project narrative (max 15 pages), budget narrative (max 10 pages), resumes, proof of nonprofit status, and a business assessment. The application must include a clear plan for infrastructure setup, recruitment strategies, stakeholder coordination, and reporting processes. CMS will evaluate applications based on five weighted criteria: experience and competency (25 points), operational proposal (25), timeline and milestones (20), communications plan (10), and budget narrative with administrative cost containment (20). Post-award responsibilities include monthly status updates, quarterly and annual reports, and final program evaluation. Recipients must also comply with relevant federal cost principles and administrative requirements. Although there is no cost-sharing requirement, any voluntary contributions must be reported and used according to CMS guidelines. The initiative is authorized under the Social Security Act and utilizes civil monetary penalties collected from nursing homes to fund projects that improve care quality.

Target admin costs under 15%; Show national nursing school relationships; Provide evidence of successful prior programs