Nursing Home Staffing Campaign

HHS-CMS CMS-2V2-26-001
Posted: Feb 09, 2026 12:00:00 AM EST
Closes: 03/27/2026

Funding Information

Estimated Total Funding
$80,000,000
Award Ceiling
$20,000,000
Award Floor
$1,760,000
Expected Number of Awards
15

Description

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is committed to improving safety and quality of care in the nation’s nursing homes. Nursing home staffing is a critical factor for improving care for nursing home residents. However, some nursing homes struggle to hire enough nursing staff to meet each resident’s needs. Additionally, state survey agencies, which are responsible for inspecting nursing homes for compliance with federal regulations, have also had challenges hiring nurses to conduct these inspections. The Nursing Home Staffing Campaign (NHSC) is aimed at increasing the availability of nurses to work in the nursing home environment, such as in qualifying nursing homes or in an oversight capacity for a state inspection agency.This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is focused on helping to recruit registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses or licensed vocational nurses (LPNs) to work in nursing homes by offering financial incentives. Through this NOFO, CMS is accepting applications for cooperative agreements to entities that will administer financial incentives, such as loan repayment and stipends to RNs and LPNs, to work for three years in a qualifying nursing home or in an oversight role with a state agency.

Synopsis

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is committed to improving safety and quality of care in the nation’s nursing homes. Nursing home staffing is a critical factor for improving care for nursing home residents. 


However, some nursing homes struggle to hire enough nursing staff to meet each resident’s needs. Additionally, state survey agencies, which are responsible for inspecting nursing homes for compliance with federal regulations, have also had challenges hiring nurses to conduct these inspections. The Nursing Home Staffing Campaign (NHSC) is aimed at increasing the availability of nurses to work in the nursing home environment, such as in qualifying nursing homes or in an oversight capacity for a state inspection agency.


This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is focused on helping to recruit registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses or licensed vocational nurses (LPNs) to work in nursing homes by offering financial incentives. Through this NOFO, CMS is accepting applications for cooperative agreements to entities that will administer financial incentives, such as loan repayment and stipends to RNs and LPNs, to work for three years in a qualifying nursing home or in an oversight role with a state agency.

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants:
Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education
Small nonprofit businesses
Faith-based organizations that meet the eligibility requirements
National associations for nursing schools
National associations for nurses
National associations for nursing students

Funding Activity Categories

Health

CFDA Numbers

  • 93.693 - Nursing Home Staffing Campaign

Contact Information

Agency: Jamie M Atwood Senior Grants Policy Specialist
Contact: Jamie M Atwood Senior Grants Policy Specialist
Phone: 301-492-4295
NHSC@cms.hhs.gov

Additional Information

Document Type: synopsis
Opportunity Category: Discretionary
Version: 1
Last Updated: Feb 09, 2026 03:29:06 PM EST

Related Opportunities