The federal government this week announced a settlement with a regional skilled nursing chain that officials accused of discriminating against residents with opioid use disorder. Athena Health Care Systems will adopt a non-discrimination policy regarding patients dealing with opioid addiction, develop training programs, and pay a $10,000 civil penalty to the government as part of […]
With capital chasing upside and new development dominated by high-end “medical resorts,” the availability of long-term care beds has emerged as a big-picture issue for the skilled nursing industry. While it may not be a nationwide problem just yet, certain markets — from Wisconsin to California — have begun to show the early signs of […]
With just two weeks to go before the new payment model for nursing homes takes effect, operators that have prepared for the changes could be expecting a significant boost in their Medicare reimbursements. But providers shouldn’t necessarily expect their investors to share in their optimism over the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM). Over the course of […]
A top official in Massachusetts called on the state’s health department to improve its nursing home investigation efforts after an audit revealed significant delays in processing inspections of potentially deficient properties. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s investigative unit failed to conduct on-site inspections of nursing homes within the mandated 10-day timeframe in 148 of […]
Formation Capital remains a heavyweight in the private investment space for senior housing and care, but its CEO says that its skilled nursing tastes have become more opportunistic as capital continues to aggressively chase available properties. The Atlanta-based Formation this past spring sold off a 12-property skilled nursing portfolio in Virginia and Pennsylvania, and CEO […]
In-house Medicare Advantage plans have emerged as a hot trend in the skilled nursing space, as operators look for ways to take control over their reimbursement destiny — and a new study shows that the model could have real benefits for both patients and Medicare at large. Members enrolled in insurance giant UnitedHealthcare’s Institutional Special […]
As the post-acute and long-term health care industry struggles through shortened lengths of stay and compressed reimbursements, an oasis has lingered just beyond the horizon: the so-called silver tsunami. If operators can wait out the current downturn, the thinking goes, the glut of baby boomers turning 80 and older over the coming years will be […]
Symphony Post Acute Network expanded its footprint into the Michigan market this week with the acquisition of Caretel Inns of Brighton and Caretel Inns of Lakeland, a pair of skilled nursing and assisted living facilities. Located in Brighton and St. Joseph, Mich., respectively, the facilities blend high-end post-acute care with assisted living units, according to […]
A ballot initiative that would overhaul the way Massachusetts’s Medicaid program pays for nursing home services last week moved one step closer to reaching voters. The office of state attorney general Maura Healey certified a nursing home reimbursement proposal among other potential ballot questions for Bay State voters to consider in 2020, local NPR station […]
When the man at the center of a record-setting nursing home fraud case faces a sentencing hearing this week, he’ll also be staring down a nearly $39 million recovery judgment. The federal government has asked a judge to approve a plan that would force Philip Esformes, convicted earlier this year on 20 fraud-related counts, to […]
Officials at the University of Kansas Health System recently found themselves facing a familiar issue for hospital groups: To bolster their post-acute presence, and reduce costly readmissions, should they partner with an external operator or do it themselves? Each option comes with its own pros and cons. Some major health systems have gone all in […]
Diversicare Healthcare Services (OTCQX: DVCR) this week announced the successful completion of a 10-building transfer that saw the skilled nursing operator exit the Kentucky market entirely. The handoff was completed on August 30, according to a release from the Brentwood, Tenn.-based provider. Diversicare had previously announced its intention to leave the Bluegrass State back in […]
The federal government on Thursday finalized a rule that will expand its power to remove potentially unscrupulous health care providers from Medicare and Medicaid eligibility. Under the new final rule, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) can kick providers out of the programs if they have a previous affiliation with a banned organization, […]
The past several years have seen sweeping overhauls of nursing home enforcement on the federal level, and the Medicare program’s top clinical officer says her agency isn’t done beefing up its efforts. Dr. Kate Goodrich, the chief medical officer for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), promised that more changes are coming to […]
Welltower Inc. (NYSE: WELL) on Wednesday announced the promotion of Tim McHugh to the position of chief financial officer — as well as the departure of former CFO John Goodey. McHugh had previously held the title of senior vice president, corporate finance at the Toledo, Ohio-based real estate investment trust (REIT), and will continue to […]
With less than a month to go before the implementation of the new Medicare payment system for nursing homes, most providers should have a firm plan in place to effectively capture reimbursements on October 1. But as the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) transitions from a proposal to a reality, operators need to prepare for the […]
Capital Funding, LLC last week announced its involvement in a $36.9 million deal that saw The Portopiccolo Group pick up a pair of skilled nursing facilities in Virginia and Maryland. The transaction covered the Iliff Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, a 130-bed facility serving both pediatric and geriatric residents in Dunn Loring, Va., and the Fox […]
Ignite Medical Resorts continued its expansion this week with the acquisition of a 96-bed skilled nursing facility in partnership with the University of Kansas Health System. Formerly known as the Kansas City Transitional Care Center, the facility will be renamed Ignite Medical Resort, in Partnership with the University of Kansas Health System when the transfer […]
Diversicare Healthcare Services this week announced that its common stock has been removed from the Nasdaq exchange after officials denied an appeal of its delisting notice. The Brentwood, Tenn.-based skilled nursing operator had received an initial warning from the exchange in late December, after its market value of listed securities (MVLS) dropped below the mandatory […]
The board of directors for The Ensign Group (Nasdaq: ENSG) this week approved a plan to separate its skilled nursing operations from the remainder of its senior housing and care business lines. The San Juan Capistrano, Calif.-based nursing home giant will see its home health, hospice, and senior living business lines move into a new […]
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