The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking nonprofit organizations and higher education institutions to serve as Financial Incentive Administrators (FIAs) that will recruit registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical/vocational nurses (LPNs) to work in nursing homes and state survey agencies through financial incentive programs. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits, non-501(c)(3) nonprofits, public higher education institutions, or private higher education institutions with demonstrated experience working with hundreds of nursing schools and thousands of nurses across multiple states. Key requirements include establishing recruitment infrastructure within six months, conducting an 18-21 month recruitment campaign targeting nursing homes in high nurse labor shortage areas, and verifying nurse licensure and employment fulfillment over a three-year period. Evaluation criteria include experience and competency (25 points), operational proposal (25 points), timeline and milestones (20 points), communications plan (10 points), and budget narrative with administrative costs not exceeding 15% of total funding (20 points). The application deadline is March 27, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, with an optional letter of intent due February 20, 2026, and an informational webinar scheduled for February 25, 2026.
CMS expects to award $80,000,000 in total funding across 5 to 10 cooperative agreements, with individual awards ranging from $1,760,000 to $20,000,000 per region over a five-year period of performance. Awards will be distributed across six geographic regions with no more than three awards per region, and funding will be allocated proportionally: 30% for LPNs, 50% for two-year RNs, and 20% for four-year RNs. Financial incentives provided to eligible nurses include up to $40,000 for student loan repayment and up to $10,000 in stipends for living expenses, distributed quarterly over three years to those working an average of at least 30 hours per week as direct employees. The expected award date is June 15, 2026, with a program start date of July 1, 2026. Performance will take place nationwide across all U.S. states, territories, and Washington D.C.