The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and states have launched a $275 million initiative to recruit and retain nurses in nursing homes, with students and licensed nurses qualified for up to $40,000 in student loan repayment, and/or a $10,000 stipend. In exchange, nurses must serve in a qualifying nursing home for three years; […]
New federal limits could reduce funding for nursing home services by billions of dollars, according to an analysis published Wednesday. These payments total an estimated $3.7 billion annually, including $2.2 billion in federal funding. Potential cuts could strain nursing home finances, reduce Medicaid bed availability and limit residents’ access to care. The 2025 federal budget […]
A multitude of risk factors are influencing expansion in the nursing home sector, including building repair and renovation costs, which are forcing many to press pause despite rising demand for skilled nursing services. These considerations are dampening expansion even aside from ongoing concerns related to big picture risks stemming from the ups and downs of […]
As lawmakers aim to overhaul the nation’s long-term care (LTC) system, with proposals addressing nursing home ownership transparency and staffing standards, providers are seeking adjustments while expressing support for many of the proposed changes. Senate Finance Committee Democrats, led by Ranking Member Ron Wyden, who issued a request for information (RFI) on Friday, are seeking […]
There’s a correlation between agency use and change in ownership (CHOW) among nursing homes, with facilities that rely on agency staff substantially more likely to experience a CHOW within two years. That’s according to a report published by 3G Healthcare Real Estate, which found that agency staffing is an early indicator of operational pressure that […]
Genesis HealthCare secured court approval Wednesday for the sale of its nationwide nursing home business to an affiliate of New Generation Health LLC for nearly $1 billion as part of its bankruptcy proceedings. Buyer 101 West State Street LLC will take over Genesis HealthCare’s operations and employees, including those related to 22 Pennsylvania nursing homes, […]
The roadmap for AI use in the nursing home is set to pack a one-two punch, with deployment of tools for administrative efficiencies first on the list, as providers also plan to explore clinical applications for future long-term use. But significant roadblocks remain, including limited interoperability between care settings and with vendors gatekeeping data. There’s […]
Policy analysts at the nonpartisan agency that advises Congress on Medicare policy are planning to investigate potential coding distortions, payment inaccuracies and whether financial incentives influence patient selection by nursing home providers as part of an assessment of payment accuracy in fee-for-service Medicare’s skilled nursing facility and home health payment systems. At its October meeting […]
While many older adults believe senior living care, including nursing homes, meets safety, care and meals well, operators can do a better job of promoting resident independence, privacy and respect to the same degree. According to a report based on a survey conducted by A Place for Mom and published on Wednesday, older adults expressed […]
More robust staff training, certifications and standardized clinical practices are major levers clinical leaders are employing to meet continued rising acuity, coupled with increased comorbidities and behavioral challenges. Specialized clinical programs involving wound care, infection prevention, antipsychotic reduction, behavioral health and IV medications, among others, are being standardized and monitored with dashboards while operators invest […]
The trend toward higher acuity in nursing homes has been at play for so long that nursing homes have turned to providing a growing number of complex services and procedures traditionally done at the hospital level. Skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) are increasingly equipped to provide everything from sophisticated ventilator care and in-house kidney dialysis to […]
AI and predictive analytic tools can help operators improve clinical care, reduce staff workloads, and identify future health issues earlier. But operators must support staff without adding complexity to their operations to make them work. Tech partners and in-house platforms can help nursing home operators avoid unapproved technologies that could expose a facility to HIPAA […]
Cascadia Healthcare is on track to become Oregon’s largest post-acute care provider with plans to acquire 11 facilities from Sapphire Health Services, a Salem-based senior care provider. Cascadia Chief Financial Officer and Principal Steve LaForte shared the latest deal news exclusively with Skilled Nursing News on Wednesday during the RETHINK 2026 conference in Philadelphia. The […]
Walking away from a Medicare Advantage plan may be disruptive, but some of the largest nursing home providers haven’t hesitated to cut ties with plans that fail to reimburse adequately. They say the risks can outweigh the rewards, particularly when promised increases in referral volume often don’t materialize. At the opening session for Skilled Nursing […]
The value-based care payment model, Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM), is confronting challenges related to communication and interoperability across hospitals and nursing homes, including the timely identification of potential TEAM-eligible patients. Moreover, some clinical leaders believe the three-day inpatient stay waiver for TEAM could use a revamp to include additional episodes of care to account […]
The latest update to the Minimum Data Set addresses a major concern for providers facing state case-mid audits and medical reviews, which often demand additional or conflicting documentation. But these updates by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to the MDS 3.0 Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) manual, which are due to be implemented […]
Nursing homes are facing greater pressure to prove their value as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) holds hospitals and ACOs more accountable for post-discharge costs, readmissions, length of stay and patient outcomes – factors that can influence which facilities hospitals end up choosing as referral partners. The changes mean SNFs should be prepared to demonstrate their ability to control costs and […]
A new kind of role is emerging in nursing homes: the geriatric specialist, a certified nurse aide (CNA) who has completed an apprenticeship designed to deepen clinical knowledge, build specialized skills and take on greater responsibility in caring for older adults. These CNA apprenticeships, which come with a pay increase, are seen to strengthen retention […]
To maximize payments, nursing homes don’t necessarily need to deploy more technology but instead make better use of existing software, especially clinical dashboards, which are currently underutilized. Data derived from clinical dashboards can prevent attrition of payment. And, more widespread use of clinical dashboards should be a standard practice across nursing homes, according to Danielle […]
Lionstone Care, which has nearly doubled its footprint by adding 25 facilities since 2023, has grown through HUD financing and strategic acquisitions, taking on both distressed properties ripe for turnaround as well as high-performing facilities. In addition to expanding its footprint, the Cleveland-based provider also added an in-house therapy company. Ezzie Goldish, Lionstone’s former CFO, […]
