Story perspectives

Proposed Care Standards Repealed, Advocates Warn of Lives Lost

1/27/2026

Summary

Story summary

In 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed a rule to require 3.48 hours of care per resident and 24/7 registered nurse coverage.
CMS repealed standards in 2026 after industry lawsuits and a Republican-led bill.
Advocates say standards could have saved 13,000 lives yearly.
The U.S. Department of Labor reverted to 1975 regulations, excluding home care workers from minimum wage protections; critics say this undermines care quality.

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Story summary

In 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed a rule to require 3.48 hours of care per resident and 24/7 registered nurse coverage.
CMS repealed standards in 2026 after industry lawsuits and a Republican-led bill.
Advocates say standards could have saved 13,000 lives yearly.
The U.S. Department of Labor reverted to 1975 regulations, excluding home care workers from minimum wage protections; critics say this undermines care quality.