CMS and States Launch $275 Million Initiative to Recruit and Retain Nurses in Nursing Homes

Nursing students and licensed nurses interested in working in a nursing home may now qualify for up to $40,000 in student loan repayment and/or a $10,000 stipend in exchange for a three-year commitment to serve in a qualifying nursing home in a rural or higher labor-shortage area through a new $275 million nationwide initiative announced today by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

The Nurses for Nursing Homes initiative is expected to support more than 4,000 nurses nationwide. Funded through civil monetary penalties collected by CMS and states from nursing homes, the initiative directs resources to licensed nurses and nursing students who provide hands-on care to nursing home residents. CMS has committed $100 million, with states committing at least an additional $175 million.

"President Trump is strengthening the nursing workforce that millions of older Americans rely on every day," said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. "This initiative will recruit and retain thousands of nurses, expand care in rural and high-need communities, and create new pathways into long-term care careers. We are putting resources directly behind the nurses who care for our seniors and strengthening the quality, stability, and dignity of nursing home care across America."

"When we offer student loan repayment through Nurses for Nursing Homes, we're not just giving nurses and nursing students future financial relief; we're supporting families who want their loved ones to receive quality care in nursing homes," said CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. "Without taking a dime from taxpayers, CMS is empowering the next generation of nurses to pursue their dreams and helping residents form deep bonds with caregivers so they can live happier, healthier lives."

Staffing is a critical component of nursing home quality and is incorporated into the agency's Five Star Quality Rating System. Nurses for Nursing Homes is designed to strengthen that workforce by recruiting and retaining eligible nurses in long-term care. All 50 states and the District of Columbia are participating, and 100% of rural nursing facilities are eligible plus additional facilities in higher labor shortage areas, extending Nurses for Nursing Homes to communities that often face significant staffing challenges. CMS is working with workforce partners, who will work with nursing homes and nursing schools across the country to recruit eligible nurses, connect them with opportunities, and build a pipeline of nurses into long-term care.

To receive payments, nurses accepted into Nurses for Nursing Homes must:

• Hold an active RN or LPN/LVN license at the time that the candidate begins their employment.
• Work at least 30 hours per week at a qualifying nursing home.
• Have eligible student loan debt; or for those without student loan debt, have graduated within the past two years to qualify for a stipend.
• Not have worked in a nursing home for at least 60 days before opening an application account and starting an application. During the first 90 days of the initiative (Oct. 26, 2026, to Jan. 24, 2027), an exception applies to RNs and LPNs/LVNs who began working in an eligible nursing home between July 28, 2026, through Oct. 25, 2026.
• Commit to three years of service at an eligible Medicare-, Medicaid-, or dually certified long-term care facility.

Nursing students, recent graduates, and licensed nurses can visit nursesfornursinghomes.cms.gov to review eligibility requirements, open an account, find open positions at eligible nursing homes, and learn how to apply.

For more details, see the Frequently Asked Questions, available at: https://www.cms.gov/files/document/nurses-nursing-homes-frequently-asked-questions.pdf