According to an American Health Care Association report, nursing homes added 40,700 workers during 2025 but remained 26,500 workers below pre-pandemic February 2020 employment levels

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CMS and HHS said the Nurses for Nursing Homes program is expected to support more than 4,000 nurses across all 50 states and the District of Columbia

Senator Ron Wyden stated that decades have passed since Congress enacted a comprehensive, system-level investment in long-term care infrastructure and financing

The Nurses for Nursing Homes program offers eligible nurses up to $40,000 in student loan repayment and a $10,000 stipend in exchange for a three-year service commitment, under the CMS initiative launched Oct. 23

In October 2026, Senate Democrats led by Senator Ron Wyden advocated for a comprehensive, system-level investment in American long-term care infrastructure and financing for home care and nursing homes

The Nurses for Nursing Homes initiative is funded by $100 million from CMS and at least $175 million pledged by states using civil monetary penalties

All rural nursing facilities and additional facilities in areas with severe labor shortages qualify for incentives under the Nurses for Nursing Homes initiative, which CMS launched Oct. 23

Applicants for the Nurses for Nursing Homes program must hold an active registered nurse, licensed practical or vocational nurse license and work at least 30 hours per week at a qualifying facility, under an initiative CMS launched Oct. 23

Applications for the Nurses for Nursing Homes initiative open on October 26, 2026, at NursesforNursingHomes.cms.gov

American Health Care Association President Clif Porter stated that supporting seniors and caregivers should remain a high priority for lawmakers in 2026 to meet exploding demand

In a May 2025 provider survey cited by the American Health Care Association, 91 percent of nursing home respondents described recruiting staff as somewhat or very difficult

According to an American Health Care Association research summary, U.S. counties with frequent staffing shortages experienced larger declines in skilled nursing beds, with rural counties affected most

The population of U.S. adults aged 80 and older is projected to rise by 8 million over the next decade, according to AHCA's January 2026 workforce report

Nurses for Nursing Homes applicants generally must not have worked in a nursing home during the 60 days before applying to the program, though temporary exceptions exist for recent hires

Nurses without qualifying student loan debt can receive the $10,000 stipend under the Nurses for Nursing Homes program if they graduated within two years before applying, an initiative CMS launched Oct. 23

President Donald Trump announced a planned payment of nearly $100 for over 20 million Medicare enrollees using funds from the Medicare Improvement Fund

Medicare for All is a viable solution to the U.S. healthcare crisis

A single-payer system could address rising medical costs and expand coverage to all Americans.

Representative Richard Neal, in line to chair the House Ways and Means Committee, plans to expand federal funding for long-term healthcare services, including dementia and Alzheimer's care

President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans enacted healthcare program reductions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and allowed Affordable Care Act subsidies to expire in January 2026

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries stated that House Democrats will prioritize reversing healthcare spending cuts and lowering household costs if they retake the House majority in the November 2026 midterm elections

Representative Frank Pallone Jr., in line to chair the House Energy and Commerce Committee, plans to challenge cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, reductions in medical research funding, limits on mifepristone, and the Trump administration's handling of a Pennsylvania measles outbreak