10/16/2025

Case Closed: Appeals Dismissed in CMS Staffing Standard Lawsuits

Litigation over the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) nursing home staffing standards has officially concluded. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit formally dismissed the federal government’s appeal in the Iowa case on October 3, following similar action by the Fifth Circuit in the Texas case two weeks earlier.

On September 18, the U.S. Department of Health filed motions with both appellate courts to voluntarily dismiss its appeals of lower court rulings that vacated the federal staffing standards. The Fifth Circuit granted dismissal of the Texas appeal on September 19, and the Eighth Circuit followed on October 3, effectively ending the legal challenges.

With these dismissals, the lower court judgments remain in place, nullifying the staffing rule in its entirety. This marks the official conclusion of litigation surrounding the staffing mandates that had drawn significant concern from providers across the nation.

LeadingAge joins its state partners and members in recognizing the successful outcomes in both cases and continues to advocate for evidence-based workforce solutions that promote quality care and operational sustainability.

Read the full series of case updates and legal background from LeadingAge in “Nursing Home Staffing Mandates: What You Need to Know”.