Application for Civil Money Penalty (CMP) funds for certified NHs to purchase portable fans and portable room air cleaners

 

To: All Colorado Certified Nursing Homes   From: Jo Tansey, CDPHE, HFEMSD, Acute Care and Nursing Facilities Branch Chief   On 2/2/2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued a revised FAQ guidance for Nursing Home Visitation – COVID 19 (Refer to https://www.cms.gov/files/document/qso-20-39-nh-revised.pdf). The guidance provides reasonable ways a nursing home can safely facilitate in-person visitation to address the psychosocial needs of residents.   Facilities may use up to $3,000 for in-person visitation aids (e.g., tents or other shelter for outdoor visitation and/or clear dividers) including installation, installation materials, and shipping costs for the in-person visitation aids. All eligible expenses incurred on or after the release of Memorandum QSO 20-39-NH (September 17, 2020) are eligible for reimbursement.   Facilities may use up to an additional $3,000 for in-person visitation aids (e.g., indoor portable fans, indoor portable air cleaners with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA, H-13 or -14) filters to increase or improve air quality) and shipping costs for the in-person visitation aids. Expenses incurred on or after the release of Memorandum QSO-20-39-NH FAQ Revised, February 2, 2022 are eligible for reimbursement.   In addition, if a facility applied for and received CMP money for visitation aides throughout 2020 and 2021 and did not spend the entire $3000.00 allowed for these aides the facility can use the balance of the $3000.00 toward the purchase of air purifiers. You will need to verify with CDPHE the amount you have left from the earlier purchases.   For criteria, application and instructions go to https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1PaGCyiCbZdxcabBtmdLaMGpFGhl5Y9R8?usp=sharing. Prior to filling out the application, you will need to download and save it to your desktop.   Note: These grants are paid from Civil Money Penalties (CMP) monies. Only certified nursing homes are eligible for the grant.   Please email any questions to cdphe_nhib_grants@state.co.us.