Judge Rejects States’ Bid to Block Nursing Home Staffing Rule

A federal judge in Iowa denied a request by 20 state attorneys general for a nationwide preliminary injunction to block implementation of an HHS rule requiring most US nursing homes to beef up their direct-care staffing levels.

In an order issued Thursday, Judge Leonard T. Strand of the US District Court for the Northern District of Iowa ruled in favor of the Justice Department.

“With regard to nearly every aspect of the Final Rule, the plaintiffs have failed to demonstrate that a preliminary injunction is necessary in order to preserve the status quo and prevent irreparable harm during the pendency ...