Care Minute Supplement (CMS) funding is designed to reward delivery. And the good news is — even small shifts in care minute performance can unlock meaningful extra funding.
Take a simple example:
- A 100-bed RACF at 96% occupancy
- Delivering 90% of both total and RN care minute targets
According to the CMS table:
- 90% compliance = $17.51 per resident/day
- Full compliance = $31.92 per resident/day
- That's an uplift of $14.41 per resident/day
Over a 90-day quarter, this means:
- 96 occupied beds
- $14.41 × 96 × 90 = $124,000+ in additional funding available with just a 10% improvement
The opportunity? With better visibility of care minute delivery during the quarter, small adjustments can add up to major funding gains, funding that can be reinvested into residents, staff, and service quality.
Of course, the cost of any additional resources or care minutes needs to be considered to see the true net outcome. But with the right balance, the gains can be significant.
Questions worth reflecting on:
- How far are you from reaching full CMS funding potential?
- What systems help you balance funding and care delivery in real time?
- How could additional funding strengthen your staff or resident experience?