Federal Workforce Funding Available for Eligible Rural Nursing Homes

Federal Workforce Funding Available for Eligible Nurses, Nursing Students

November 11, 2026
Rural Health UpdatesMember News

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced a $275 million Nurses for Nursing Homes initiative to support nurses and nursing students. The campaign aims to strengthen recruitment and retention at qualifying long-term care facilities in rural communities and other workforce shortage areas. Eligible nurses may receive up to $40,000 in student loan repayment and/or a $10,000 stipend in exchange for a three-year service commitment at an eligible facility.

To receive payments, nurses accepted into the initiative must:

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

The MHA encourages rural hospitals that own, operate or are affiliated with nursing homes to review the list of qualifying facilities and share the opportunity with appropriate nursing, human resources and recruitment teams.

Additional eligibility and application information is available through the Nurses for Nursing Homes webpage. Questions may be directed to the MHA Center of Rural Excellence.

Nurses for Nursing HomesCMSlong-term carenursingrural healthcareStudent Loan Repayment

Newsroom

Connect with MHA

MiCare Champion Cast

Federal Workforce Funding Available for Eligible Nurses, Nursing Students