In a health care landscape full of challenges, staffing consistently ranks as the top concern for skilled nursing facilities. But the second-most prevalent concern is patients and residents who have mental health needs and substance use disorders, according to a top federal official — and there are no easy answers for how SNFs should cope. […]
For one skilled nursing operator in the greater Chicago area, success in the world of accountable care organizations has meant education and proactive collaboration — as well as a willingness to drop out of a partnership with an ACO that didn’t fit into its overall philosophy. “We really look for a partnership in the ACO, […]
Reports of therapist layoffs and cuts in therapy hours hit the news within days of the implementation of the new Medicare reimbursement system for skilled nursing facilities, sending shock waves throughout the rehab provider community. But according to one major skilled nursing trade group, the cuts to therapy were baked into the system of the […]
The massive purchasing power of China’s population draws businesses from across the world, and one major post-acute player sees opportunity to thrive by introducing rehabilitation services to the country’s health care system. But to do that, Genesis HealthCare (NYSE: GEN) had to overcome the challenges of breaking into the notoriously challenging market, and learned some […]
As more and more capital enters the skilled nursing sector, buyers and sellers have plenty of options when it comes to financing — and the market only stands to heat up as the Patient-Driven Payment Model continues to play out in practice. That’s according to Ari Dobkin, co-head of the senior housing and healthcare team […]
A plan to significantly change New York State’s Medicaid reimbursement model for nursing homes remains up in the air, leaving operators wondering if they could face retroactive cuts to the tune of millions of dollars. Back in June, New York officials filed a state plan amendment (SPA) with the federal government that would make changes […]
BM Eagle Holdings has emerged as a major owner of skilled nursing assets in the United States, picking off a pair of sizable portfolio deals in the last two years — with a specific focus on finding the right operator in the right market. “In our business, what we’re looking for is investing in assets […]
The first week of the new Medicare payment model for nursing homes has brought stories of rapidly shifting therapy patterns among some providers, and voices from the consulting and advocacy worlds are warning that any sudden movements could cause adverse effects — both immediately and down the road. The advent of the Patient-Driven Payment Model […]
With the federal overhaul of Medicare reimbursement to skilled nursing facilities comes a new focus on patient characteristics and clinical needs. And to thrive in a world where payment for care is based on such information, SNFs have to have that information readily at hand — in a format that they can understand. To that […]
The new Medicare payment model for nursing homes took effect this week with a bang, as therapists across the nation criticized a wave of staffing reductions in the immediate wake of the October 1 start date. Several companies implemented workforce cuts as the federal government shifted to the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM), which moves incentives […]
Just one day after the new Medicare payment model for nursing homes took effect, providers throughout the industry have begun showing signs of changing therapy strategies — and one of the nation’s top operators confirmed the layoff of about 585 rehab employees. A spokesperson for Genesis HealthCare (NYSE: GEN) confirmed to SNN that the company […]
Skilled nursing providers looking for a simple answer to how managed care plans will react to the new Medicare payment model will likely have to face an inconvenient truth: It’s complicated. Private Medicare Advantage insurers didn’t have to follow the old Resource Utilization Group (RUG) model when deciding how to reimburse for skilled nursing services, […]
The long wait is over: The new Medicare payment system for nursing homes has arrived. October 1 marks the official start of the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM), just about 18 months after the federal government first announced the change in April 2018. Since then, the skilled nursing industry has trained a laser focus on preparations […]
The relationship between skilled nursing facilities and their referring hospital partnerships can be a rocky one for both sides. But in an ideal world, it should be a partnership, with each willing to work together to achieve top patient and resident outcomes. For Sue Craft, the vice president of inpatient case management and post-acute services […]
The federal government issued a final rule on Thursday requiring hospitals to give patients access to more information about the post-acute provider choices available — including data on how their post-acute options perform on quality measures such as pressure ulcers, falls, and readmissions. This new rule will not have any impact on anti-steering regulations that […]
Bridging the gap between hospitals and skilled nursing facilities has been a hot topic for providers in the nursing home world for some time. But even as partnerships on patient data and care transitions move forward, there are other ways a hospital and a SNF might be able to find common ground, according to Larry […]
Just about a week after changing hands, four skilled nursing facilities in Nebraska announced plans to soon shut down amid financial difficulties that their new owners blamed on a tough overall state budget landscape. The four facilities — Blue Hill Care Center in Blue Hill, Crestview Care Center in Milford, Mory’s Haven in Columbus, and […]
Skilled nursing and senior living can seem worlds apart, with the former associated with health care and the latter with hotel-style touches like bistro dining and concierge serves. But one operator of skilled nursing facilities sees moving into assisted living as the best way to prepare for the future of both models. The Minneapolis-based Health […]
The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) lending program for skilled nursing facilities grabbed some negative headlines earlier this year, but a key financial player in the space says that demand for the products remains strong — though the government has placed increasing focus on star ratings and care quality when underwriting deals. “The […]
As payers and hospital networks increasingly treat skilled nursing facilities as just one stop along an overall episode of care, operators in the space have received a variety of messages about how to survive: Bring data, get to know referral partners’ problems, demonstrate your worth. But a leader at a major Philadelphia-area hospital network took […]