The Ensign Group (Nasdaq: ENSG) on Wednesday announced eight facility acquisitions across six states – Utah, Arizona, Tennessee, Texas, Kansas and Iowa. The additions bring Ensign’s growing portfolio to 310 healthcare operations across 14 states. Twenty-nine of these operations also include senior living operations. Real estate in Arizona, River park Post Acute and Elmwood Senior […]
A national nursing home staffing campaign is in development to aid operators in meeting the federal minimum staffing mandate, and the sector will hear more about the campaign this summer. Dr. Dora Hughes, acting CMS Chief Medical Officer and acting director, Center for Clinical Standards and Quality, mentioned the campaign at the end of a […]
States like New York have modified their staffing mandate to reward nursing homes for avoiding costly staffing agencies, although operators don’t find this legislation particularly rewarding, especially now that the national minimum staffing mandate has been finalized. Stu Almer, CEO of Gurwin Healthcare in New York, said such legislation isn’t helpful given the ongoing workforce […]
Health care cyber attacks have been an ever-present threat for providers, including nursing homes. But the most recent attacks on Change Healthcare have had ripple effects on the industry, prompting lobbying groups and federal agencies to action. The attack in February has affected cash flow and claims processes for some nursing home operators, associations said, […]
While Medicare Advantage (MA) has grown steadily in the last several years, leaders in the nursing home sector speculate whether increased federal regulation – and perhaps even more importantly, changes in the consumer experience – will slow its growth. This would come as a welcome development to many nursing home leaders, who have been struggling […]
An activist investor of National Health Investors (NYSE: NHI) has called for changes to the real estate investment trust’s (REIT’s) board of directors , ahead of lease negotiations with one of the REIT’s largest tenants, National HealthCare Corporation (NHC). Land & Buildings Investment Management issued a letter to shareholders on Thursday, urging a shakeup in […]
One state has committed more than $1.1 billion to boosting community living options for people who would otherwise be in a nursing home, following a landmark class action lawsuit settlement. The 54-page settlement agreement still needs a judge’s approval. The original case, titled Marsters v. Healey, involved six residents who were unable to leave their […]
Federal lawmakers have introduced the Long-Term Care Workforce Support Act, in conjunction with a hearing that took place Tuesday, hosted by the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging. The bill, if passed, would increase the number of direct care professionals, including in rural communities. Some associations representing the nursing home industry said the legislation managed […]
A legal settlement reached by Omega Healthcare Investors Inc. (NYSE: OHI), if finalized, will change some of the real estate investment trust’s corporate governance policies and practices related to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, the company announced Monday. Omega’s insurance company will also pay $850,000 in attorney fees and expenses, while a court hearing scheduled […]
State legislators appear to be turning more toward telemedicine to help deliver care in nursing homes, as the staffing shortage persists and trips for appointments outside of a facility can be difficult for residents and staff alike. Two pieces of legislation in South Dakota signed into law by Gov. Kristi Noem are tied to $7 […]
Despite a 17.5% Medicaid increase last year, at least 25 nursing homes closed in Pennsylvania since the pandemic began – and a significant financial shortfall remains, leaders said. Closures equate to a loss of 2,588 certified nursing home beds in the state since 2020. The continued workforce shortage and underfunding of Medicaid made closures and […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is testing out a payment model that would cover all costs associated with an episode of care, including a skilled nursing stay, but it appears that select hospitals would be in the driver’s seat if approved. Certain surgical procedures will fall under the new model and include […]
Skilled nursing beds continue to be associated with more operational stress among continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) this year, despite improved occupancy from 72.4% in 2022 to 82.2% in 2023, and preliminary 2024 data showing further improvement. Fitch Ratings recorded eased labor challenges as well among skilled nursing providers as part of its “exposure draft” […]
Government leaders are cracking down on long-term care providers in Arizona, expanding health officials’ authority to monitor and fine operators in nursing homes, as well as assisted living and memory care. Legislation was signed into law on Monday, originally designed to establish minimum training standards for staff working with memory care residents, according to a […]
The nursing home industry, along with other settings in long-term care, is expected to be a central campaign focus for presidential candidates in future elections. One reason is growth of the older population just as the Medicare trust fund is projected to show a deficit starting around 2026 when the oldest of baby boomers will […]
The federal government’s proposed Medicare payment increase for 2025 is not sitting well with the nursing home sector, with financial experts and operators raising concerns that the bump fails to compensate for inflation-induced operating costs – and a staffing proposal anticipated to cost in the billions each year. For some experts, the Centers for Medicare […]
North Dakota has some of the highest staffing levels in the country – no small feat considering the many pockets of rural communities. The state has achieved this because of a very supportive legislative body that recognizes the value of long-term care services, including skilled nursing, operators and associations say. Garth Rydland, president and CEO […]
Nursing homes in Pennsylvania face a critical underfunding of Medicaid, with one in four nursing home beds currently offline due to inadequate reimbursement. Survey findings from LeadingAge PA also point toward the continuing workforce shortage, as to why so many beds are not in use. About 48% of facilities in the state have had to […]
Some nursing homes in Kansas have been misclassified as continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs), resulting in the state losing close to $88 million in assessment revenue. That’s according to a performance audit conducted by the Kansas Medicaid Inspector General’s (MIG) office, which found that 68% of CCRC certifications between July 2020 and Aug. 31, 2023 […]
Infection-related hospitalizations and deaths among nursing home residents decreased as a result of a coordinated intervention adopted by facilities, along with hospitals and long-term acute care hospitals (LTCHs). The intervention, called SHIELD-OC, was centered around reducing superbugs, or multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), and involved 35 health care facilities in Orange County, Calif., according to a study […]
Subscribe
Receive industry updates and breaking news from SNN.