CMS Repeals 2024 Nursing Home Staffing Standards Affecting Quality Mandates

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently repealed the 2024 nursing home staffing requirements rule, which mandated a minimum of 3.48 hours of staff per resident day, including 24/7 registered nurse coverage. This regulation was designed as a baseline to improve nursing home care quality and was projected to save approximately 13,000 lives annually. Although the staffing rule's enforcement was previously delayed by legislative action, CMS's repeal extends further, removing these minimum standards completely. Despite this repeal, the enhanced facility assessment process, another staffing requirement from the 2024 rule focused on resident acuity and needs-based staffing, remains intact. The rescinded staffing standards were part of broader efforts to address deficiencies highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic and were met with criticism from healthcare advocates and some lawmakers concerned about potential impacts on resident safety. The interim final rule repealing these staffing requirements is set to take effect on February 2, 2026, leaving ongoing discussions around adequate nursing home staffing and quality assurance at the forefront of regulatory and care quality debates.