‘The Biggest Risk’: Inside the Litigation Pitfalls for SNF Operators Employing 1099 Workers

As nursing home staffing agencies popped up amid the pandemic’s exacerbated staffing crisis, so too have litigation pitfalls for operators eager to fill shifts as the staffing crisis continues. One such pitfall that is expected to become a huge issue for operators is related to bringing 1099 workers, or independent contractors, for clinical positions into […]

Efforts to Rein In Nursing Home Temp Agencies Gain Ground After ‘Price Gouging,’ Other Troubling Practices

It’s no secret that temporary staffing agencies have been both a boon and bane for the nursing home industry, providing necessary but very costly labor during the pandemic. Staffing problems have persisted long enough in the post-Covid era to warrant their use, but pricing practices have led to an outcry and push for state regulation. […]

Evolving Nursing Home Business Model Sees Rise of Third-Party Docs, Therapists, Back Office Staff

As rising acuity and reimbursement challenges stymy nursing home workforce growth, third party contracts have been increasingly responsible for providing daily services. Whether its providing resident-facing clinical work, including use of third party doctors, supplying medical equipment or rendering back office services that focus more on ensuring proper documentation for reimbursement, third parties are increasingly […]

Cascade Health’s COO Touts Advantages as a Small Owner of Nursing Homes

Marjorie Dorrow, COO of Cascade Health Services, which operates two facilities in Boerne and Castroville, Texas, said that the company’s status as a smaller operator has afforded it many advantages, and quick adaptability is one of them. With the ever changing regulatory environment, the end of Public Health Emergency reimbursements, and other uncertainties and staffing […]

Ciena Healthcare CEO: Despite ‘Good PR,’ Rise of Managed Care is Harming Nursing Home Sector

The nursing home industry is still saddled with several serious challenges – labor and funding issues included – as it struggles to recover and survive. And, it feels imprudent for the federal government to increase regulation of the sector, particularly as managed care companies continue unchecked as they create more pressures on nursing homes. This […]

[UPDATED]: Supreme Court Upholds Resident Right to Sue Publicly Owned SNFs

In a 7-2 ruling, the Supreme Court on Thursday morning ruled that nursing home residents and their families can sue publicly-owned nursing home facilities under the Federal Nursing Home Reform Act. The case presented the question of whether Medicaid beneficiaries can seek relief in federal court when they believe their rights are being violated by […]

‘We’re at a Crossroads’: Nursing Homes See Union-Provider Collaboration Driven by Problems of Access, Acuity and Labor

Frequent nursing home closures and an access crisis across the country mean skilled nursing providers and unions must put aside their differences to find common ground in the post-pandemic age. However, achieving that alignment in the midst of seismic regulatory changes and legal challenges is another story. “We’re at a crossroads,” said Zach Shamberg, president […]

SALMON COO Talks Grassroots Staffing Initiatives, His Shift from Police Academy, Start as a CNA

With an ever increasing aging population that is sicker with higher acuities, COO Shawn Neville of SALMON Health and Retirement says capturing an accurate financial picture is a challenge for nursing homes – and an additional reason why so many are closing down.  Neville was named to his current position at the family-owned and Massachusetts-based […]

CEO of LTC ACO: Too Many SNFs Still ‘Missing Out on Substantial Shared Savings,’ Despite Value-Based Care Growth

The challenges of Covid-19 and its aftermath have made it difficult for some skilled nursing facilities to increase their engagement in value-based care — but they are at risk of falling behind as the health care system continues to evolve, and they are also potentially leaving money on the table. That’s according to Jason Feuerman, […]

Accura CEO: We Made It Through Survival Mode, Sector Still Gripped By ‘Pain and Frustration’

Despite good occupancy levels, low reimbursements amid high inflation pushed Accura Healthcare into survival mode over the last year or so, according to CEO Ted LeNeave. And successfully navigating through tough times had Accura leaning on strong partnerships — with vendors, lenders, landlords and even employees, LeNeave told Skilled Nursing News. Emerging out of this […]

PDPM is a Start, But Rising Acuity at Nursing Homes Demands Building New Payment Models for Adequate Reimbursement 

As acuity continues to rise among nursing home residents, providers say reimbursement needs to change too – and not just the dollar amount. Incentives should be based on quality of care, and the industry will need to build out specific reimbursement models to match expanded acuity specialities, especially as value-based care becomes more and more […]

‘Road to Recovery’: ASC’s New CEO Steve Van Camp on Occupancy, Workforce, Diversification

American Senior Communities’ incoming CEO, Steve Van Camp, plans to focus on the road to recovery from Covid in restoring occupancy levels while advancing workforce initiatives. In an exclusive interview with Skilled Nursing News, Van Camp also shared his worries about resolving the staffing crisis amid sector-wide concerns related to the forthcoming proposal on minimum […]

Stemming the Rise of Psychotropics in Nursing Homes: Educational Outreach, Collaboration, Medication Management Are Key

The efforts of the federal government and nursing homes to reduce the use of psychotropics have been significant, and seem to have paid off until recently when the numbers painted a more grim picture. Some operators believe that the alarming rise in the prescriptions of psychotropics is partly due to a lack of communication between […]

‘Multifaceted Challenge’: AHCA’s Clif Porter on Visa Freeze and Growing Backlog of Immigrant Nurses Amid SNF Labor Woes  

In another blow to a floundering nursing home workforce shortage, the State Department last month froze green card processes for international nurses. According to a bulletin from the federal office, only green card petitions filed earlier than June 2022 will proceed to the interview stage – all others will be paused indefinitely. Clif Porter, SVP […]

‘A Model’: In New State Law, Nursing Homes Get to Influence Survey Process to Ease Punitive Aspects

Industry stakeholders in Kentucky are celebrating the passage of new legislation that will require the state government to involve skilled nursing trade organizations to weigh in on how state surveyors are trained, and participate in the training process. Providers and advocates hail the law as a model for the nation, and welcome the ability to […]

Innovation and Uncertainty: Nursing Home Providers Forge New Paths for a Post-Covid Era

As the Skilled Nursing News’ CLINICAL event in Washington D.C. came to a close last month, industry experts left with staffing concerns amid labor shortages and pending legislation on minimum staffing standards. However, operators also shared optimism over their innovations in corporate and clinical practices as they continued to confront higher acuity and tighter regulation. […]

‘System in Crisis’: US Senate Hearing Calls for More Funding, Staffing for Nursing Home Inspections

The nursing home inspections system is underfunded and understaffed and needs federal assistance for alleviating inspection backlogs, or residents will remain in peril, experts and legislators said at a U.S. Senate hearing on Thursday. Officials from the long-term care ombudsman program as well as leaders from state inspections and regulatory bodies were among those who […]