CMS Proposes Dropping COVID-19 Reporting for Nursing Homes
A proposed federal rule would eliminate a COVID-19 reporting requirement for long-term care facilities, following requests from Senator Kevin Cramer and a North Dakota industry group.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in COVID-19
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has proposed eliminating a COVID-19 reporting requirement for long-term care facilities as part of a federal rule published November 10. The reporting requirement has not yet been eliminated, and the proposed rule is open for public review through the Federal Register.
Why it matters
Cramer and the North Dakota Long Term Care Association argued that outdated COVID-19 reporting rules place unnecessary demands on healthcare facilities. The proposal is part of a broader federal effort to reduce administrative burdens on healthcare providers.
The change is contained in a proposed rule titled Cutting Administrative Requirements for Excellence in Patient Care, published November 10 for public comment. CMS must complete the federal rulemaking process before the change can take effect, and the timeline for that process was not specified.
The players
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
The federal agency that administers Medicare and Medicaid and issued the proposed rule.
Kevin Cramer
A U.S. Senator from North Dakota who requested the change and welcomed the proposal.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services who discussed regulatory burdens with Cramer.
North Dakota Long Term Care Association
An industry group representing long-term care providers in North Dakota that requested the change alongside Cramer.
The details
The proposed change was included in a federal rule seeking to reduce administrative burdens on healthcare providers. Cramer discussed the need to reduce federal regulatory burdens with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at a Rural Health Transformation Program roundtable in North Dakota, and Cramer welcomed the proposal in a statement posted on X.
Timeline
November 10, 2026: The proposed rule was published for public review in the Federal Register.
Last week: Cramer and Kennedy discussed regulatory burdens at a roundtable in North Dakota.
Health Landscape
The proposal sits within the Cutting Administrative Requirements for Excellence in Patient Care rule, which targets administrative requirements on healthcare providers. It is one of several provisions in that rulemaking, and the COVID-19 reporting requirement is being reconsidered as pandemic-era rules are reviewed.
If finalized, the change would remove a reporting obligation for long-term care facilities, reducing paperwork for staff who submit data. Residents and families would not see a direct change in care from the proposal itself, since it concerns administrative reporting.
The takeaway
Pandemic-era reporting rules are being reviewed for removal as federal agencies look to reduce administrative demands on healthcare providers. Readers tracking long-term care policy can follow the proposed rule through the Federal Register during its public comment period.
Further reading
For broader background, see the COVID-19 coverage on Wisevoter.com.
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