The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced the repeal of a staffing mandate introduced during the Biden administration that affected rural nursing homes in Montana. The decision was welcomed by U.S. Senator Steve Daines, who has been an opponent of the rule since 2023.
“Today’s announcement from HHS is a massive win for Montana’s senior citizens, who deserve access to quality long-term care. Biden’s ‘one-size-fits-all’ staffing mandate undermined access to care for patients in our rural communities and more than a dozen Montana nursing homes closed during his administration. I’m grateful to President Trump and his administration for putting the needs of our senior citizens first and for recognizing the workforce challenges that our rural communities face,” said Daines.
The repealed rule had required uniform staffing levels at nursing homes, which critics argued did not account for the unique challenges faced by facilities in rural areas. During its implementation, several nursing homes in Montana closed due to difficulties meeting the mandate.
Senator Daines has been vocal about his opposition to the policy and expressed support for efforts aimed at addressing workforce shortages specific to rural healthcare providers.