This bill blocks enforcement of federal rules requiring minimum nurse staffing levels at nursing homes, including requirements for 24/7 nursing coverage and specific hours of care per resident per day.
Latest Action
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
AI Summary
Plain-English explanation of this bill
This bill blocks enforcement of federal rules requiring minimum nurse staffing levels at nursing homes, including requirements for 24/7 nursing coverage and specific hours of care per resident per day.
Last updated: 1/5/2026
Official Summary
Congressional Research Service summary
<p><strong>Protecting America’s Seniors’ Access to Care Act</strong></p><p>This bill prohibits administration, implementation, or enforcement of the rule titled <em>Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Minimum Staffing Standards for Long-Term Care Facilities and Medicaid Institutional Payment Transparency Reporting</em>, which was issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on May 10, 2024. </p><p>Specifically, the bill prohibits administration, implementation, or enforcement of provisions that, among other changes, (1) establish minimum staffing standards for nurses in Medicare and Medicaid long-term care facilities, including requiring a nurse to be onsite 24/7 and requiring a minimum of 3.48 total nurse staffing hours per resident per day; and (2) require state Medicaid programs to report on payments to direct care workers and support staff of nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities. </p>
Key Points
Main provisions of the bill
Blocks nursing home staffing requirements
Stops 24/7 nurse on-site mandate
Prevents 3.48 hours per resident standard
Halts Medicaid payment transparency rules
Responds to nursing home industry concerns
How This Impacts Americans
Potential effects on citizens and communities
Nursing homes would not be required to meet new federal staffing minimums that the industry says are impossible to achieve given workforce shortages. Patient advocates argue the rules are needed to ensure adequate care for residents.
Policy Areas
Primary Policy Area
Health
Related Subjects
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Department of Health and Human Services
Employee hiring
Health care costs and insurance
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medicaid
Medicare
Scope & Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction Level
federal
Congressional Session
119th Congress
Citation Reference
1303, 119th Congress (2025). "Protecting America’s Seniors’ Access to Care Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-1303
