Section 1919 of the Social Security Act, 42 CFR 488.433 and Iowa Code section 249A.57 allows the Agency to impose civil money penalties when a long-term care facility is not in substantial compliance with one or more Medicare or Medicaid participation requirements. These penalties may range from $50 to $10,000 per day, depending on the kind of deficiency recorded by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensure (DIAL). The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) returns a portion of the CMP funds to the states and permits states to direct collected civil money penalty funds for quality improvement projects that enhance the quality of care and the quality of life for Nursing Facility residents. The Agency's Civil Money Penalty Quality Improvement Initiative (CMPQII) Grant Program accepts proposals from certified long term care facilities, consumer or state nursing facility advocacy organizations, resident and family councils, professional or state nursing home associations, and private applicants that are interested in promoting quality of care or quality of life for residents of nursing facilities licensed by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensure (DIAL) and certified as meeting the requirements of participation for Medicaid and Medicare.
