Attorney General Bird Announces Legal Victory for Iowa Seniors

DES MOINES -- Attorney General Brenna Bird today announced a legal victory against President Biden’s attack on affordable nursing homes. The states sued the Biden administration’s Department of Health and Human Services because it sought to apply unworkable regulations on nursing homes and long-term care facilities. Under the radical rule, 94% of nursing homes would have been out-of-compliance. There is already a widespread shortage of nursing home staff, and this mandate would have put more nursing homes at risk.  

The increased nursing requirements were estimated to cost more than $43 billion and risked closing many nursing homes, especially in rural and low-income communities. The court yesterday ruled in favor of the plaintiffs.  

“This is a victory for senior Iowans and their families,” said Attorney General Bird. “The Biden-Harris administration mandate threatened a mass shutdown of nursing homes and senior care across the country, impacting rural Iowa particularly. The mandate would have forced many nursing homes out of business, increased costs for families, and, for some, removed access to senior care altogether. Our seniors have invested their lives in their communities; I’m proud to have helped protect their access to quality care close to home.” 

Iowa co-led the lawsuit with Kansas and South Carolina. They were joined by Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia. 

Read the opinion here. 

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For More Information:

Jen Green 

jen.green@ag.iowa.gov