§1744 Hiring and Retention of Nurses: Payments to Assist States

Summary

The Secretary must give money to States to help State homes hire and keep nurses and to ease nursing shortages. To get money for a year, a State must apply and must (1) receive per‑day payments under this part of the law that year and (2) have a scholarship or other staff incentive program at the State home to hire or keep nurses. The money can only be used for that incentive program and must follow rules the Secretary sets, who should allow flexibility and new ideas. The payment can cover no more than 50% of the program’s yearly costs. For each State home with a qualifying program, the payment equals 2% of the amount the State home is estimated to receive under section 1741 for that year. Payments come from the same funds used for other payments under this part and are sent along with the payments under section 1741. If an employee repays money because they broke an agreement tied to these funds, the refund must go back into the home’s incentive account and count as non‑Federal money. Each State home must give the Secretary a detailed report on how the funds were used and how the program affected nurse staffing within 60 days after the fiscal year ends; reports can be audited and are required before getting money the next year. The Secretary must issue rules that include criteria for awarding these payments.