NEW YORK, March 13, 2006 - As the “Baby Boomers” get older, increasing financial constraints will become more of a problem in ensuring quality care in our nation’s long term care facilities. Civil money penalties (CMPs)/fines against nursing homes for violations of good standards of care, present a powerful opportunity to improve care. The collected CMP funds are an available pool of money that could be used in innovative ways to improve the quality of life and care for residents. Unfortunately, too few states currently exercise this option.

This study, undertaken with support of The Commonwealth Fund, examines how monies collected from CMPs/fines are a potentially powerful source of funding to improve the lives of residents. According to Charlene Harrington, co-project director and University of California professor, “We found a wide variation among states in issuing and collecting CMPs/fines. However, overall, there is a large amount of money that could be used to improve nursing home care. Forty six states reported having $60 million available in accounts from CMPs/fines in 2005.”