The American Nurses Association (ANA) urges governors and state leaders to fully engage in the state matching process so their communities can access $75 million in new federal funding from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) dedicated to strengthening the long-term care nursing workforce.

The funding committed by CMS underscores the importance of investing in nurses and will support states in strengthening workforce development programs for nurses and nursing assistants in long-term care facilities. This targeted investment is a meaningful step toward addressing the nation's urgent healthcare workforce challenges and supporting care for vulnerable populations.

"Reinvesting these dollars into programs that support nurses is both a smart policy decision and a necessary investment into our nation's health," said ANA President Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN. "We urge every governor to fully leverage the available funding so facilities can recruit and retain the nurses and certified nursing assistants that patients depend on every day."

This investment is an important step forward, and ANA emphasizes that sustained federal support remains essential for nursing education and workforce programs. Robust Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development funding, including the Nursing Faculty Loan Repayment program, remains critical to expanding training capacity and ensuring qualified faculty are available to prepare the next generation of nurses.