Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
January 14, 2025 (updated)
Summary:
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is launching a national Nursing Home Staffing Campaign aimed at increasing the number of nurses working in nursing homes and at the state agencies that inspect nursing homes for compliance with health and safety standards.
CMS will provide financial incentives for Registered Nurses (RNs), like tuition reimbursement to encourage RNs to work in nursing homes and state agencies. They will also work on promoting training opportunities by streamlining the process for individuals to become a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA).
CMS will launch a webpage for prospective nurses. Initially, it will highlight and link to state websites that provide listings of local CNA training programs. When the RN financial incentives are available, the site will provide links to apply for that assistance.
CMS will partner with state governments to leverage the foundation CMS is building to bolster the campaign in their state. For example, states can provide additional financial incentives to RNs to work in nursing homes in their state.
CMS will also collaborate with various interested parties, such as resident advocates, nursing organizations, and nursing home associations to strengthen the campaign by amplifying recruitment messages and promoting incentives to work in nursing homes.