HHS launches 'Nurses for Nursing Homes' spy database on caregivers
Published Date: 8/20/2026
Notice
Summary
In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is establishing a new system of records to be maintained by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), titled "Nurses for Nursing Homes Program (NNHP)," system No. 09-70-0545. The new system of records will cover the collection of records on individuals who apply for, participate in, or otherwise support the Nurses for Nursing Homes Program (NNHP). Records maintained in the system will include personally identifiable information (PII), including demographic, professional licensure and credential information, education and training information, employment and nursing facility affiliation, payment information, tax reporting, audit records, and other records necessary to administer the program. CMS will use these records to support the administration of a nursing workforce incentive program designed to strengthen the workforce serving Medicare and Medicaid-certified nursing homes with a focus on underserved and rural communities. The scope of the new system of records will be commensurate with its purpose of supporting the Nursing Home Staffing Campaign/Nursing Incentive Program (NHSC/NIP).
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 4 costs, 0 mixed.
Quarterly loan repayment and stipends
If you apply to or participate in the Nurses for Nursing Homes Program, CMS may pay financial incentives including student loan repayment awards and incentive stipends that are disbursed quarterly over a CMS-established commitment period. The program is funded via Civil Monetary Penalties (CMPs) collected from Medicare and Medicaid-certified nursing homes.
Incentives subject to federal tax reporting
CMS will process and issue federal tax reporting documentation, including Form 1099, for incentive payments made to participating nurses and will disclose information to the IRS and Department of the Treasury for TIN/SSN verification and tax reporting purposes.
IRS check can block funding eligibility
CMS may disclose information to the IRS to determine if an applicant has a delinquent tax debt; that check is used solely to determine the applicant's eligibility for program funding.
Loan servicers may be contacted for payoffs
CMS may disclose participant information to lending institutions and loan servicing agencies to obtain payoff balances and determine whether educational loans are eligible for repayment under the Program.
Collection and retention of sensitive PII
CMS will collect and store sensitive personally identifiable information for applicants and participants, including full legal name, date of birth, SSN/TIN, bank account and routing numbers for ACH/EFT disbursements, loan account numbers, and will retain eligible records no sooner than seven years after cut-off under NARA schedule DAA-0440-2015-0008-0001 (Bucket 6).
Access and amendment needs notarized ID
To access or amend records in this system you must submit a written request with your full contact information and either a notarized signature or a written certification verifying your identity; knowingly requesting records under false pretenses is a criminal offense punishable by a fine of up to $5,000.
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