CMS repeals minimum staffing requirements for nursing homes

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services rescinded its minimum staffing requirements for nursing homes participating in Medicare and Medicaid that it adopted in 2024. The American Hospital Association opposed the standards, contending they could exacerbate workforce shortages, lead to facility closures and jeopardize access to care in rural and underserved communities. The AHA maintains safe staffing should be based on clinical judgment and flexibility to meet evolving patient needs. While CMS eliminated the minimum staffing requirements, the facility assessment requirements adopted in the 2024 final rule will remain in place. The agency’s actions are consistent with the budget reconciliation bill enacted in July, which imposed a 10-year implementation and enforcement moratorium on the minimum staffing requirements for long-term care facilities. (HHS news release, 12/2/25)