A federal judge in Texas on Monday overturned a policy that would have created the first nationwide staffing requirements for nursing homes. The decision marked a significant development for nursing home operators and others concerned about workforce challenges in the healthcare industry.

The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, blocks a regulation that would have required nursing homes to have a registered nurse on-site 24 hours a day and to ensure that each resident received at least 33 minutes of daily care from a registered nurse. The rule was set to be phased in beginning in 2026, with rural facilities given additional time to meet the standards.

While acknowledging that staffing levels, infection control, and oversight remain important issues in the industry, Judge Kacsmaryk wrote that the proposed

federal standards went beyond the legal authority of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). He noted that although the policy was motivated by “laudable goals,” it was not the appropriate solution under existing laws. Read more below