Leaked budget documents from the White House show potential elimination of nursing home-related changes, particularly medical workforce programs focusing on geriatric medicine and other aging services, as well as prioritizing research and accreditation funds.
The “pre-conclusive” document, titled “Divisional Health and Human Services (HHS) 2026 Discretionary Budget Passback,” released by Inside Medicine, included several other focus areas related to nursing homes, including the budget for nursing home workforce development and the elimination of the long-term care ombuzuman program. The focus on mandatory and certification investigations is also highlighted in Doc, which has a two-year funding period.
The Nursing Home Association Leadingage said the plan outlined in the document combined with the ongoing large workforce cuts at HHS suggests that it is “unremoved” to provide funding to meet American needs.
“The FY26 preliminary draft budget for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) eliminates the central programme of health and welfare for the elderly and those who serve it.” “We will continue to review this draft as we are waiting for a full suite of budget documents once the request is officially sent to the hill.”
The elimination of some workforce programs would put other programs at risk by integrating them into block grants, which could be funded at state discretion, Couch said.
The ability to effectively carry out HHS' duties has been “a severely reduced,” Couch said, taking into account the reduction in “huge” funding along with staff cuts.
Congress has repeatedly cut $880 billion to Medicaid cuts for 10 years. This believes nursing home advocates endanger the care of vulnerable groups the industry offers.
On Monday, 12 House Republicans expressed concern over the cuts to the Medicaid program, but the settlement budget is still under discussion in the hill.
“We cannot support a final settlement bill that includes a reduction in Medicaid compensation for vulnerable groups,” House Republicans said the move praised by the American Medical Association and the Nursing Home Association, including the National Center for Rehabilitation (AHCA/NCAL).
“Reducing Medicaid funding programs, such as provider taxes, should threaten to reduce Medicaid coverage for nursing home residents, and break contracts for all lawmakers,” said Michael Bassett, senior vice president of government relations at AHCA/NCAL in a statement.
