CMS Announces Advance Practice Nursing Demonstration - March 27, 2012

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced on March 22 a call for applications for the Graduate Nurse Education Demonstration. This demonstration, made possible by the Affordable Care Act, will provide hospitals that work with nursing schools to train advanced practice nurses (APRNs) up to $200 million over 4 years to cover the cost of training. This initiative aims to bolster the primary care workforce by helping eligible hospitals increase the availability of clinical training settings for APRNs. Additionally, this demonstration provides non-hospital, community-based training for APRNs to serve minority and underserved patients. CMS will select five eligible hospitals to participate in this demonstration. Applications are due to CMS by May 21.