U.S. healthcare agency launches new nursing home staffing campaign
BALTIMORE, UNITED STATES — The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a new initiative to address critical staffing shortages in nursing homes.
The effort includes the launch of two web pages aimed at recruiting and educating certified nursing aides (CNAs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and registered nurses (RNs) for long-term care facilities and state inspection agencies.
This “Nursing Home Staffing Campaign” seeks to enhance care quality by growing the nursing workforce.
“We believe that a well-supported nursing workforce leads to better care for all,” CMS stated, emphasizing its commitment to improving both the quality of life for residents and working conditions for staff.
Financial support and free training opportunities
A central component of the campaign is the “Explore Nursing Home Careers” website, which highlights career pathways in nursing homes. It promotes free CNA training programs, tuition reimbursement, and other financial incentives for RNs who choose to work in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) or state agencies.
“Staffing has a significant impact on the quality of care residents get,” CMS explained. The agency plans to collaborate with states to expand nurse recruitment efforts, pledging over $75 million toward financial incentives as part of this initiative.
The campaign also aims to simplify access to training programs and provide clear career guidance for prospective nurses. By focusing on these areas, CMS hopes to attract more individuals into the aging services workforce.
Mixed reactions from industry leaders
While many industry leaders welcome the initiative, they stress that additional funding is necessary to make a significant impact.
Holly Harmon, Senior Vice President of Quality at the American Health Care Association (AHCA), expressed cautious optimism, saying, “We appreciate that CMS is taking action on the caregiver shortage… but policymakers must invest significant resources and advance meaningful policy changes.”
Janine Finck-Boyle, Vice President of Health Policy at LeadingAge, echoed similar sentiments, calling for more clarity on how financial incentives will be implemented and how job seekers will be reached effectively.
Staffing mandates face legal challenges
The campaign coincides with CMS’s controversial staffing rule requiring 24/7 RN coverage and increased daily care hours by 2026. Providers in multiple states have filed lawsuits seeking to block or delay these mandates, arguing that compliance will be challenging without additional resources.
Despite these challenges, CMS remains committed to addressing workforce shortages while improving care standards in nursing homes. Whether this initiative will yield long-term solutions remains uncertain.
