42 CFR § 488.444 - Civil money penalties: Settlement of penalties.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t42/s488.444"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "42 CFR § 488.444 - Civil money penalties: Settlement of penalties."
title_number: 42
title_name: "Public Health"
section_number: "488.444"
section_name: "Civil money penalties: Settlement of penalties."
chapter_name: "CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES"
subchapter_number: "G"
subchapter_name: "STANDARDS AND CERTIFICATION"
part_number: "488"
part_name: "SURVEY, CERTIFICATION, AND ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "42 U.S.C 1302 and 1395hh."
regulatory_source: "53 FR 22859, June 17, 1988, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "488"
---


# 488.444 Civil money penalties: Settlement of penalties.

(a) CMS has authority to settle cases at any time prior to a final administrative decision for Medicare-only SNFs, State-operated facilities, or other facilities for which CMS's enforcement action prevails, in accordance with § 488.330.

(b) The State has the authority to settle cases at any time prior to the evidentiary hearing decision for all cases in which the State's enforcement action prevails.