Nursing Scores Big in FY 2026 Appropriations 

  

The American Nurses Association (ANA) scored several legislative wins with the enactment of the latest funding package.  

On February 3, President Donald Trump signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (Public Law No. 119-75) into law to end the partial government shutdown.

This $1.2 trillion package funds most of the federal government, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through September 30, 2026. The measure separately provides a continuing resolution that funds the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for two weeks to give lawmakers extra time to negotiate a longer-term DHS bill.  

The law provides funding for or extends several healthcare programs that are critical to nurses and the patients they serve: 

  • Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs
  • National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) 
  • Telehealth flexibilities 
  • Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act 
  • PREEMIE Reauthorization Act 
  • Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act 
  • Medicaid 

Here is a glimpse of several legislative wins for ANA and the broader nursing community for fiscal year (FY) 2026 in this package: 

Continued Funding for Critical Nursing Programs and NINR 

Public Law No. 119-75 provides static funding – $305.472 million – to the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs in FY 2026. For those new nursing policy wonks, the Title VIII Programs are administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration and address all aspects of nursing workforce development, including education, practice, and retention.  

While static funding may not sound like progress, it was a HUGE win given that a previous version of the Labor-HHS-Education spending bill in the U.S. House of Representatives would have cut roughly $47 million from Title VIII by eliminating funding for the Nurse Faculty Loan Program and the Nursing Workforce Diversity Program. ANA and 64 additional organizations comprising the Nursing Community Coalition worked tirelessly to express the nursing community’s concerns with the proposed cuts.  Ultimately, the final measure provided level funding by simply reallocating $2 million from the Nursing Workforce Diversity Program to other programs within Title VIII.  

The law also provides $197.693 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) and $19.5 million for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAHMSA) Minority Fellowship Program (MFP). Within the National Institutes of Health, NINR conducts and invests in nursing research and training. The SAMHSA MFP aims to improve behavioral health outcomes for all by providing professional development and training opportunities for nurses and other healthcare professionals who comprise the behavioral health workforce. ANA is a proud MFP grantee organization. The static funding that NINR and the MFP received is a huge feat for ANA and its coalition allies given that the President’s FY2026 budget called for the elimination of NINR and reorganization of SAMHSA into the proposed Administration for a Health America (AHA).

Extension of COVID Era Telehealth Flexibilities 

Public Law No. 119-75 extends telehealth flexibilities that were first put into place during the COVID-19 public health emergency through December 31, 2027. This extension prevents a sudden return to pre-pandemic requirements and ensures patients’ access to healthcare services through telehealth. Specifically, these flexibilities allow beneficiaries to receive virtual care from their homes without geographic limits, let a broad array of clinicians furnish telehealth services, and continue coverage for audio-only visits and other remote care modalities that increase access to care.

Reauthorization of Critical Programs that Support Provider Wellbeing 

The Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act (H.R. 929/S. 266) was enacted into law as part of the funding package. This measure reauthorizes, through FY2030, critical programs that aim to prevent suicide and reduce occupational burnout, mental health conditions, and substance disorders among nurses and other clinicians. Initiatives include evidence-based treatments, suicide and burnout prevention training, and national education and advocacy campaigns to improve awareness and reduce stigma around getting help. For the first time, grant eligibility will now be expanded to include entities focused on reducing administrative burdens on nurses and other clinicians.  

ANA was proud to advocate for reauthorization of these programs in collaboration with the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation and other healthcare organizations through the All In Wellbeing First for Healthcare Coalition. 

Maternal & Child Health Funding and Reauthorizations 

Public Law No. 119-75 includes FY 2026 funding for several maternal and child health programs, including Healthy Start, the Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant, newborn screenings, the Safe Motherhood Initiative, and the Maternal Mental Health Hotline.  

The package also reauthorizes critical maternal and infant health programs through the passage of the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act (S.1562/H.R. 1197) and the Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act (S.2621)/H.R. 1909) through FY2030. These programs advance research, education, and interventions to reduce preterm birth, while bolstering federal support for maternal mortality review committees that help states better understand and prevent pregnancy-related deaths. ANA was proud to partner with 260+ partner organizations to advocate for the reauthorization of these programs. 

Medicaid Makes a Comeback 

Last year, ANA and its allies were crushed when Congress voted to overhaul the Medicaid program through the enactment of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, despite our extensive advocacy efforts to defend the program. While the program is still slated to undergo significant changes that will impact patients’ access to care and the nursing workforce, the funding law enacts bipartisan measures that aim to improve access, coverage, and program administration. 

The Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act of 2025 (H.R. 1509/S. 752) requires states to establish a process through which qualifying out-of-state providers can temporarily treat children under Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance program without undergoing additional screening. The Ensuring Access to Medicaid Buy-In Programs Act (H.R. 1598) removes age restrictions on Medicaid eligibility for working adults with disabilities, allowing them to maintain coverage beyond age 65. The funding package also requires states to adopt clearer residency and coverage standards for military families. Finally, Public Law No. 119-75 directs the states and HHS to study the costs of maternity, labor, and delivery services to help inform Medicaid payment policies in the future.  

Regulation 101: How Nurses Can Shape Policy

  

Advocating for a bill gets all the attention—thanks, Schoolhouse Rock—but the real action starts after a bill becomes law. Once the ink is dry, someone must figure out how that law will actually work in the real world.

That’s where regulation comes in.

Federal agencies take the laws passed by Congress, analyze them, interpret them, and translate them into detailed regulations—the practical roadmap for implementation. If a law is the diagnosis, regulation is the care plan.

Regulatory advocacy is your chance to shape that care plan. It’s the process of informing and influencing agencies as they develop, implement, and enforce the rules that bring laws to life.

And the best part: it’s one of the most direct, accessible ways to participate in public policy.

If you want proof that regulation matters, look at the Affordable Care Act. Congress passed a bill of a few hundred pages, but the real work—and thousands of pages of regulations—came from giving meaning to the 1,442 times the law directed “the Secretary of HHS” to implement the bill Congress had passed.

The Regulatory Cycle

Every agency has its own peculiarities when it comes to the process of issuing regulations, but the regulatory process follows a predictable rhythm. This article breaks down the key steps, shows you how to craft effective comments, and explains why nurses—because of their training, experience, and frontline perspective—are uniquely powerful regulatory advocates.

Once an agency finishes its research and drafts a regulation, it must alert the public through a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). The proposal, referred to as a proposed rule, is posted in the Federal Register, opening a public comment period. Comment periods vary from 30 to 60 days—where anyone can weigh in. After the comment window closes, the agency reviews the feedback, makes revisions, counts every comment and weighs the input to issue a final rule. That final rule is published in the Federal Register and added to the agency’s docket on Regulations.gov.

When a rule is finalized, it’s then codified in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)—the official, organized record of all federal regulations. The CFR is divided into 50 titles, each covering a major subject area. Most health care regulations live in Title 45, and the entire CFR is updated on a rolling annual schedule. 

How to Track Regulations

If a rule is open for public comment, you’ll find it on Regulations.gov. That’s where you can submit your own comments and read what others have already posted (yes—every comment is public). If you want to follow an agency’s progress on a regulation, the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) lets you track rules by agency and see where they are in the process.

Regulations can be long, but you don’t have to read every word.

Most NPRMs follow a predictable structure: instructions for submitting comments, a table of contents, background, a summary of the proposal, an analysis of its impact, technical details, and finally the actual regulatory text. If you want to see what’s changing, skip straight to the end.

Each notice also lists staff who can answer questions. They’re there for a reason—reach out.

How to Write a Regulatory Comment

Writing a regulatory comment is a lot like writing a SOAP note—you’re sharing who you are, what you see, and what you recommend, backed by real‑world experience and solid evidence. Comments can come from individuals or groups, and there’s no “right” length or format. What matters most is clarity, authenticity, and a strong point of view. Use this roadmap to craft an effective advocacy message:

Introduce yourself.
Briefly describe your professional background and relevant experience. Include credentials if you have them, and an email address if you choose. Skip anything confidential—no patient details or identifying information.

Be specific about what you’re responding to.
Name the exact section of the proposed rule you’re addressing and state your position clearly. Keep the issue front and center.

Use real‑world examples and impact.
Personal stories bring your perspective to life. They show how a policy affects people, workplaces, and systems—and making the emotional connect help connect with the reviewer.

Include evidence.
Data, citations, news articles and research strengthen your argument and show you’ve thought through the issue from multiple angles.

Offer or support solutions or alternatives.
Suggest solutions or highlight approaches that already work that the agency may have done. It is valuable to recognize the work being done as springboard to new regulation. You can also endorse ideas raised in other comments.

Educate.
Assume the reviewer has no clinical background. This is your chance to explain nursing practice and why your perspective matters.

Review before submitting.
Check for typos, clarity, and tone. Use professional language, spell out acronyms, and add subheadings if your comment is long.

Rebuilding America’s Nursing  Workforce—Title VIII Programs

  

America continues to face a geographic nursing workforce shortage, particularly in rural and medically underserved communities.

Inadequate staffing tends to have an adverse, ripple effect on the nursing workforce and the ability of healthcare facilities to provide timely, high-quality healthcare services. One solution to this staffing crisis is for policymakers to continue to invest in nursing education by supporting the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs. 

There will be about 194,500 openings for registered nurses (RNs) annually through 2033 due to nurse retirements and other workforce exits.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

What are the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs? 

The Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs represent the only dedicated federal programs addressing all aspects of nursing workforce development, including education, practice, and retention. These programs are administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Here is an overview of the Title VIII Programs: 

  • ADVANCED NURSING EDUCATION PROGRAM – The Advanced Nursing Education Program helps support advanced practice registered nursing (APRN) students so they may practice in rural and underserved settings. This program also focuses on increasing nurses in primary care through traineeships opportunities.  
  • NURSING WORKFORCE DIVERSITY PROGRAM – The Nursing Workforce Diversity Program increases nursing education opportunities for students underrepresented in the profession by supporting career advancement for nurses with diplomas to become baccalaureate prepared registered nurses (RNs) or graduate-prepared advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs).  
  • NURSE EDUCATION, PRACTICE, QUALITY AND RETENTION PROGRAM – The Nursing Education, Practice, Quality and Retention Program focuses on national nursing needs and strengthens nursing workforce capacity.  
  • NURSE FACULTY LOAN PROGRAM – The Nurse Faculty Loan Program works to increase the number of qualified nurse educators by awarding funds to institutions that provide student loans to graduate students willing to serve as faculty upon graduation.  
  • NURSE CORPS SCHOLARSHIP AND LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAMS – The Nurse Corps Scholarship Program awards scholarships to individuals who are enrolled or accepted in a school of nursing, in exchange for service of at least two years in a Critical Shortage Facility (CSF) after graduation. The Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program assists in the recruitment and retention of RNs and APRNs to work in CSFs or as faculty in nursing schools by providing these nurses with loan repayment benefits. 

Importance of Reauthorizing the Title VIII Nursing Programs 

The Title VIII Programs were last reauthorized in 2020 as part of the Coronavirus, Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act for a period of five years. Anticipating the need to reauthorize these critical programs, the American Nurses Association (ANA) and its allies in the nursing community worked with a bipartisan group of congressional champions to introduce the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act (H.R. 3593 / S. 1874). Both bills have garnered bipartisan support on Capitol Hill.

In fact, the House Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing earlier this year to examine H.R. 3593. Unfortunately, the federal government shutdown slowed down momentum for moving this bill and authorization for the programs expired on October 1st. Without the passage of this bill, the Title VIII Programs are at risk for losing congressional funding and being eliminated altogether. Our team continues to advocate for reauthorization during ongoing conversations with key Leadership and committee staff on both sides of the aisle.  

Congressional Funding is Critical to Expand Nursing Workforce 

Despite making up the largest sector of the healthcare workforce at over 5 million nurses, congressional support for nursing workforce development currently stands at $305.472 million in discretionary spending under the current continuing resolution which is in effect until January 30, 2026. This amount pales in comparison to the $17.8 billion in mandatory funding that Congress provides to graduate medical education. Unfortunately, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved a healthcare spending bill that would provide $303.472 million for the Title VIII Programs in Fiscal Year 2026. The measure proposes a $2 million haircut to the Nursing Workforce Diversity Program. 

Even worse, the House Appropriations Committee took a machete to the Title VIII Programs by proposing to cut these programs by $47 million. Specifically, the bill would eliminate funding for the Nursing Workforce Diversity Program and the Nurse Faculty Loan Program. The adoption of the House bill would make it harder for our nation to attract talented nurse faculty to educate the next generation of nurses. It would also make it more difficult for our nation to attract a nursing workforce that meets the needs of all Americans. Consequently, ANA and its nursing allies are now requesting that Congress provide at least $303.472 million for the Title VIII Programs in FY 2026 by adopting the Senate’s healthcare spending bill. 

How You Can Help Protect Nursing Education 

There are plenty of ways that nursing advocates can help ANA protect the Title VIII Programs and nursing education. The easiest way is to reach out to your members of Congress to ask for their support for reauthorization and funding for these vital programs by visiting RNAction.org. Nursing advocates can also schedule meetings with their lawmakers and their staff in their district offices during constituent work periods. Visit ANA’s In-District webpage that share tips for scheduling and executing these meetings. Finally, ANA members can join the Nurses Action Society if they would like to leverage their existing relationships with federal lawmakers or would like to develop relationships with lawmakers on Capitol Hill.