Looking ahead, leaders at National Health Investors Inc. (NYSE: NHI) are excited about recent investment activity and a growing pipeline of $270 million. The real estate investment trust (REIT) is pursuing several large portfolio deals, along with fee-simple real estate, loans with purchase options and seniors housing opportunities. The Murfreesboro, Tenn.-based company has spent multiple […]
American Healthcare REIT’s (NYSE: AHR) skilled nursing occupancy levels were down due to seasonality although executives remained optimistic and revised guidance for fiscal 2024 upwards, saying that demand across all its four segments was expected to remain strong. “As we enter the latter half of 2024 demand and growth for health care real estate remains […]
Nursing home operators say the civil monetary penalty (CMP) expansion is proving to be one of the most problematic features of the 2025 Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (SNF PPS) final rule. Initially, there was excitement for the Medicare payment increase, but this has turned to dread for operators who are already dealing with […]
CareTrust REIT (NYSE: CTRE) has been busy with its investment pipeline this week, announcing $378 million in new investments after June 30, and on top of $268 million in investments during the second quarter. Chief Investment Officer James Callister said competition for skilled nursing acquisitions is high as oncoming improvement and post-COVID performance has resulted […]
While hopeful that the Supreme Court’s recent Chevron decision will undermine the federal staffing mandate and lead to a more rational regulatory environment, leaders in the nursing home sector also are warning that the ruling could create a period of uncertainty and tumult. Steve LaForte, director of corporate affairs and general counsel for Idaho-based Cascadia […]
Leaders with LTC Properties (NYSE: LTC) said Medicaid rate increases were one positive aspect from the second financial quarter, even as some of its assets were seeing occupancy issues and ongoing deferrals in rent. Occupancy “disappointingly deteriorated” among certain assets, including LTC’s skilled nursing facilities, analysts with BMO Capital Markets reported. While overall SNF occupancy […]
The nursing home industry is caught between a growing demand for services and evolution of the delivery model, all while policymakers and the wider community cling to an outdated version of the sector. This has made lobbying for the industry a tricky endeavor, and yet, it also offers a unique – even urgent – opportunity […]
Deal opportunities continue to be abundant for the Ensign Group (Nasdaq: ENSG), and leaders for the nursing home giant also are more confident that the federal nursing home staffing mandate is doomed. While announcing strong quarterly results and increased guidance, Ensign executives stated that the typical seasonal trends of depressed summertime occupancy and skilled mix […]
Meticulous documentation is the name of the game for nursing home operators looking to keep up with Minimum Data Set (MDS) changes and maintaining a good rating in the Five-Star Quality Rating System. This is especially because inaccurate or insufficient data could affect a facility for at least a year in the future. Leaders in […]
Since last October’s Minimum Data Set (MDS) changes – considered the most significant since 2011 – nursing homes have faced more rigorous regulatory requirements and administrative burdens to implement them. However, these changes can serve as renewed opportunities to improve resident care through an interdisciplinary team approach, which can result in savings. To draw success, […]
Many nursing home operators in the past year have been in rebuilding mode, bolstering staff and reworking systems to fit better in a post-pandemic world. Principle LTC has been doing much the same in developing programs offered to help employees in crisis or those who want to further their education. But, it’s going to take […]
In an era when surveys – and delay in surveys – have been the cause for much stress among nursing home operators, a sometimes undervalued and overlooked strategy to minimize survey risk involves operators developing strong relationships with their state survey agencies. That’s certainly an easier task compared to getting approval from national agencies like […]
As the federal government’s new staffing mandate looms large for nursing homes, operators are grappling with challenges in meeting the upcoming facility assessment requirements but urge compliance despite the burdens on staff. Stuart Almer, an industry veteran who is also president and CEO of Gurwin Healthcare System in New York, highlighted the daunting nature of […]
Financial and operational challenges in a climate of ever-tightening regulation have intensified to the point where industry leaders have been continuously adapting, yet bleeding profits. In a panel discussion led by Skilled Nursing News titled, “Mandate and Margin: Skilled Nursing CEOs on Rethinking Staffing, Payments, & Strategic Business Imperatives,” executives discussed how SNF operators are […]
There’s been a flurry of regulatory activity related to Medicare Advantage (MA) in the first half of this year, with many policy actions being the result of extensive advocacy efforts among nursing home organizations. However, many of the regulations – such as those related to prior authorizations for certain services – as they stand are […]
As regulatory, operational and legal risks abound for nursing home operators, strong relationships with commercial insurance carriers and brokers continue to be key in countering costs. Operators facing higher insurance premiums and greater administrative burdens have turned to using strong commercial insurance risk management companies as well as data-driven solutions that factor in the new […]
Specialized clinical programs at nursing homes, tailored to specific patient populations, are gaining popularity. Their success and longevity depend on forging close partnerships with local hospitals to address gaps in care – a feature that is also expected to alleviate backlogs at hospitals. In creating strong clinical programs at SNFs, hospitals – can and do […]
Behind the success of PACS Group’s (NYSE: PACS) high-growth model is the nursing home giant’s principle of entrusting its early career administrators with greater autonomy. In rejecting the traditional path, PACS allows administrators in training the opportunity to step into their roles with greater independence much earlier. Enabling new leaders to make crucial decisions and […]
Reimbursement issues at nursing homes are pushing operators to adapt their payment models to increase reliance on Institutional Special Needs Plans (I-SNPs) and Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). But while these models aim to enhance care quality even as they control costs, they also bring on unique challenges, including requiring extra oversight with discharges and related […]
The new facility assessment requirements that federal agencies are expecting will guide decisions on staffing levels are also garnering concerns about potential administrative and financial burdens, particularly for smaller-sized nursing home chains. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) modified the existing requirements in late June, issuing expanded guidance to include metrics that are […]
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