Offer your residents the adaptive technology they need to stay in touch with their families during COVID-19.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has a program called the Civil Money Penalty Reinvestment Program (CMPRP), which awards grant money to providers and stakeholders to enhance the quality of life for nursing home residents. These funds come from the civil monetary penalties (CMPs) that CMS imposes against nursing homes that are not in substantial compliance with one or more of the Medicare and Medicaid participation requirements. A portion of the CMPs collected are returned to the states in which the CMPs are imposed. These state CMP funds may be reinvested to support activities that benefit nursing home residents.
What types of projects can CMP funds be used for?
The current focus of the CMPRP is resident quality of life. The funds may be used for a number of different initiatives, including staff training, projects that support consumer involvement in assuring quality of care, such as resident councils, and quality assurance and performance improvement initiatives. CMS prohibits the use of funds for capital improvements, facility services and supplies, and projects not directly related to improving quality of life and care for nursing home residents.
What are some examples of projects that are funded through the CMPRP?
In 2018, more than 200 projects were funded. These were either new or ongoing projects from previous grant years and included a wide array of topics. The grant amounts ranged from several for $10,000 or less to one for nearly $3 million. The majority of funded projects included staff training and education, with many related to dementia care. Other popular topics include quality assurance and performance improvement (QAPI), infection prevention, wound care and palliative care.
How can CMP funds support programs for COVID-19 response?
Per a recent CMS memo, “CMP funds may be requested for programs that are used to purchase communicative devices, such as tablets or webcams, to increase the ability for nursing homes to help residents stay connected with their loved ones. However, to ensure a balanced distribution of devices, applications to use CMP funds for this purpose are limited to purchasing one device per 7-10 residents with a maximum of $3,000 per facility.”
“Additionally, facilities may apply to use CMP funds to help facilitate in-person visits. CMS will now approve the use of CMP funds to purchase tents for outdoor visitation and/or clear dividers (e.g., Plexiglas or similar product) to create a physical barrier to reduce the risk of transmission during in-person visits. Funding for tents and clear dividers is also limited to a maximum of $3,000 per facility.”
We offer a vast selection of interventions to help you create safer visitation spaces for your residents, guests and staff.
What technology systems or products does Direct Supply offer?
Goodview Dynamic Detection Display
Quickly and accurately detect temperature without contact or need for human intervention with the Goodview Dynamic Detection Display. If an elevated temperature is detected, the device alerts the individual with audible and visual confirmation. This technology can help lower staffing expenses, reduce risk of exposure, provide immediate data for staff intervention and demonstrate that safety is a top priority.
iN2L
The It’s Never 2 Late system is a full virtual engagement platform that facilitates meaningful experiences and connections. This computerized system connects seniors with their interests and creates personalized experiences. iN2L features 4,000 content items that support the core dimensions of wellness. Residents can create personalized My Page profiles where their favorite content applications are stored as well as photos and videos from their families. Personal pages also can connect to email and video call capabilities via Skype. These systems are portable and can be disinfected from room to room for additional safety and convenience.
Jintronix
Bring therapy to residents in their rooms with mobile systems such as Jintronix, which can capture data of various activities, exercises and assessments. In-room restorative care can be delivered with this system as well. For instance, therapists can prescribe a custom exercise routine based on the individual’s agility, endurance and strength capability. The CNA can then log into the system and pull up the prescribed exercises and help support the resident with verbal cues. The motion sensor on the system will capture each movement so the therapist can see exactly what happened during the session down to the degree of flexion.
Personal Tablets
Connectivity is a growing need in Senior Living for resident and staff interaction, socialization, and real-time situational awareness. Direct Supply has many available tablets and smart devices featuring abilities to run various apps for business needs as well as improving resident engagement possibilities. These devices can promote virtual visits, and communities and families can download the appropriate apps and manage the hardware and software according to building policies.
Accessories include the following:
- Protective covers that allow for cleaning and disinfection
- Cleaning and disinfection products in accordance with recommendations of the device manufacturer
- Headphones for individual use
- Assistive/adaptive equipment
Who can apply for a grant from the CMPRP?
Any Long Term Care entity may apply for funds for CMS approved projects. In addition to Long Term Care communities, associations, private contractors, and universities and other similar groups may apply.
How do I access funds through the CMPRP?
CMP fund grants are available on a state-by-state basis, with CMS oversight. All states must receive approval for project grants from their CMS regional office.
The application process for CMP funds is determined by the state in which the nursing home is located. The process for each state may differ, and some states have their own applications for CMP funds. Applicants should use their state-specific application and instructions, if applicable. Most state grant applications require details such as target audience, intended outcomes, deliverables, sustainability and replicability of the project. Reference the CMP contact by state to find specific state contacts.
How much grant money is available to fund projects?
The majority of states have an abundance of CMP funds but not enough applicants. For example, Mississippi reports that for Fiscal Year 2019, it had over $13 million in CMP collections, with only $1.8 million committed to projects and $1.4 million to remain in reserves. That leaves more than $10 million in available funding. Tennessee had, as of March 2018, more than $29 million in CMP collections, with only six projects worth a total of $815,340 committed to those projects.
The deadline for any 2020 projects is February 1, 2021.
Would you like to receive funds from CMS? For more information on the CMPRP, visit the CMS website.
Direct Supply offers complimentary assistance to select the right products for your project goals. Search for products online or contact us – call 1-866-300-4074 to speak with one of our Product Consultants. We’re here to help.
