The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has temporarily paused the review of Civil Money Penalty Reinvestment Program (CMPRP) applications due to the ongoing freeze on external communications from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and its agencies.

CMS recently shifted CMPRP processes such as the review and approval of grant applications and disbursement of funds away from the CMS locations (regional offices) and onto a centralized team within CMS at the federal level to simplify workflows and improve effectiveness.

However, states have been informed that due to the communications freeze implemented in January, CMS is unable to approve or communicate regarding applications until further notice. CMS has pledged to provide additional information as soon as conditions permit.

LeadingAge has advocated for a swift end to the pause in communications that was originally planned to end in February that continues to impact multiple aspects of aging services.