12/04/2025

HHS Repeals Federal Minimum Staffing Rule for Nursing Homes

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has repealed major provisions of the federal Minimum Staffing Standards for Long-Term Care Facilities and Medicaid Institutional Payment Transparency Reporting Final Rule, reversing staffing mandates that had been finalized in 2024 by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

The decision, announced December 2, follows HHS’ determination that the rule placed disproportionate pressure on nursing homes in rural and Tribal communities and risked limiting access to care. HHS concluded that the rule’s one-size-fits-all requirements were not feasible for many communities facing persistent workforce shortages. Tribal leaders also raised concerns regarding insufficient consultation during the original rulemaking process, emphasizing the significant implications these requirements would have had for long-term care facilities serving Tribal elders.

HHS indicated that the repeal reflects the administration’s commitment to regulatory approaches that maintain both safety and access, noting that rigid federal staffing ratios could unintentionally restrict services in areas already struggling to recruit and retain nursing staff. 

Read the press release from LeadingAge here.