Veterans Health Programs Improvement Act

Assistance to States Hiring and Retaining Nurses at State Veterans Homes

Law States

The Secretary shall make payments to States under this section for the purpose of assisting State homes in the hiring and retention of nurses and the reduction of nursing shortages at State homes

Eligibility For Funding Receives Per Diem payments for that

fiscal year Has an employee incentive scholarship

program or other employee incentive programs designed to promote the hiring and retention

of nursing staff and reduce nursing shortages

Amounts of Payment

Payment many not be used to provide more than 50% of the costs for a fiscal year of the employee incentive scholarship or other employee incentive program for which the payment is made

The amount of payment to a state for any fiscal year

Is the amount equal to 2 percent of the amount of payments estimated to be made to that State for that State home for that fiscal year.

Application Based On: Description of the nursing shortage

at the State home The employee incentive scholarship

program or other employee incentive program described for which payment is sought.

Disbursements Payments shall be made as part of

the routine disbursement of payments to the State home

Use of Certain Receipts If the State home receives a refund payment

made by an employee in breach of the terms of an agreement for employee assistance that used funds provided under this section, the payment shall be returned to the State home’s incentive program account and credited as a non-Federal funding source.

Annual Report From Payment Recipients Any state home receiving payment under this

section shall be required to agree to provide to the Secretary a report detailing the use of the funds including a descriptive analysis of how effective the

incentive program has been on nurse staffing during that fiscal year

Annual Report From Payment Recipients Report to the Secretary within 60 days of the

close of the FY. Eligibility for further payments will be contingent upon receipt of the annual report

Define Nurse

Licensed or certified and who are bedside care givers at least a majority of time

38 U.S.C. 1744 (c) authorizes VA to establish criteria for award of payments

Credible Evidenceof Nursing Shortage SVH records

Documenting vacancies Documenting overtime Evidence supporting difficulty in hiring and

retaining in local area

Summary Evidence of a currently established employee

incentive program Up to 50% of cost of current employee

incentive program Not to exceed 2 percent of the total per diem

payments estimated by VA to be paid to the SVH during that FY

VA will consider any information available including past performance of the SVH program

Types of Programs Eligible

Short term scholarships for continuing nurse education

Sign-on bonuses for nurses Student loan forgiveness programs Improvements in working conditions

Application VA Form 10-0430

Available from VAMC At http

://vaww4.va.gov/vaforms/medical/pdf/10-0430-fill.pdf

Call Theresa Hayes at 202-461-6771 or E-mail Theresa.Hayes@va.gov or Brenda Wiggins at 202.461.6757 or E-mail Brenda.Wiggins3@va.gov

Submission for Payment Must be received by VA during the last quarter of

preceding FY (July 1- September 30) State must submit evidence that state has sufficient

funding, when combined with the VA payments to fully operate its employee incentive program through FY end. Authorized state official certifying

availability of funds by certain date for the FY without further state action to make funds available

Or copy of State law authorizing funds for the employee incentive program

Application continued If insufficient information:

State rep will be notified in writing and electronically, regarding what else is needed

State has 30 calendar days from notice to submit requested information

Annual Report Sets forth in detail the use of the

funds Descriptive analysis of effectiveness of

program in improving nurse staffing in the SVH

Decreased turn over Improved hiring and retention

Annual Report Provide to VA within 60 days of the

close of Federal FY (September 30th) in which payment was made

Annual Report Shall be subject to audit by VA

A state receiving payment under this part shall also prepare audit reports as required by the Single Audit Act of 1984 (38 CFR part 41) and submit them to VA

Recapture Provisions If a State fails to use the funds provided

for the purpose for which payment was made or receives more than is allowed under this part,

***The United States shall be entitled to recover from the State the amount not used for such purpose of the excess amount received.

Submission of Information

To Chief Consultant, Geriatrics and Extended Care (114)VHA Headquarters810 Vermont Avenue, NWWashington, DC 20420

Notification of Funding Decision If a state fails to meet the requirements

of this part for funding, the Chief Consultant shall provide written notice, both E-mail and by letter with the decision and the reasons for the decision.

Summary of Requirements Describe the nursing shortage Describe the employee incentive program

including costs $$$ Amount requested Document availability of matching funds Describe how the employee incentive

program will eliminate the nursing shortage

Questions? Please contact Theresa Hayes @

202.461.6771 or E-mail Theresa.Hayes@va.gov

or Brenda Wiggins@ 202.461.6757 or

E-mail Brenda.Wiggins3@va.gov