On March 19, 2013, CMS published a final rule that adopts, with technical changes and a few clarifications, a February 18, 2011 interim final rule implementing an ACA provision imposing notification requirements in connection with closure of a Medicare skilled nursing facility (SNF) or Medicaid nursing facility (NF). Under the rule, in the case of a long-term care (LTC) facility closure, the SNF or NF administrator must provide written notification of the impending closure and a plan for the relocation of residents to the state survey agency at least 60 days prior to the impending closure (or, if the Secretary terminates the facility’s participation in Medicare or Medicaid, not later than the date the Secretary determines appropriate). Notice and the plan also must be provided to residents, their legal representatives or other responsible parties, and the state LTC Ombudsman. While the ACA authorizes civil monetary penalties (CMPs) of up to $100,000 and exclusion for an administrator’s failure to comply with this provision, CMS is finalizing the lower levels of CMPs established in the interim final rule in recognition that there are cases in which an administrator may not have had control over implementing notice procedures. The final rule therefore sets CMPs of: a minimum of $500 for the first offense; a minimum of $1,500 for the second offense; and a minimum of $3,000 for the third and subsequent offenses (CMS states that interpretive guidelines are being developed that will establish criteria for determination of CMP amounts). CMS also provides appeal rights for an individual who is subject to administrator sanctions under the rule. The final rule is effective April 18, 2013 (although note that the statutory closure notice requirements are effective March 23, 2011).