Will The Program Survive Trump’s Cuts?

Before Biden left office, CMS developed a new program that is now in jeopardy under Trump’s federal freeze. The program was needed relief and good news for understaffed nursing homes. CMS proposed a grant of upwards $50,000 for nursing students seeking Registered Nursing careers and experience.

In order to qualify, students will have to work in a nursing home facility for at least three years in the state appropriate to their qualification. This will not only benefit nursing students needing to further their experience for a better cost, but also for the improvement of care in nursing homes. However, Trump has not supported the program.

A primary issue in nursing facilities is having enough staff to meet the needs of each resident. Neglect, improper care, or lack thereof, often finds itself to be a constant occurrence in nursing homes because of unsafe staffing levels. By creating a new market of jobs for nurses, while also incentivizing them to work with monetary rewards, creates the best of both worlds for the resident and staff. It is a hope that this may be a step in the right direction for solving a prominent issue in facilities demanding enough staff for care.

The CMS hopes to put $20 million into the program so that the nursing homes receiving the grant can hire enough staff to meet the needs of its residents.

Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been granted access to Medicare and Medicaid records, exacerbating fears about the business leader’s unprecedented access to the personal financial data of millions of Americans.