The COVID-19 pandemic continued to put pressure on an already strained skilled nursing industry in 2021. The next 12 months will be yet another test of resilience. Looking ahead to 2022, SNFs must stay nimble and inventive to not only survive but thrive. Private equity will continue to lead the nursing home transaction market pack, […]
Though some nursing home owners had hoped to put the COVID-19 pandemic behind them by the end of 2021, coronavirus variants and the exacerbated staffing shortages have made that impossible for most heading into 2022. If this year has taught the sector anything, it’s that some threats to long-term care won’t be as temporary as […]
Several recurring topics crept up while chronicling Skilled Nursing News’ most-read stories of the year – occupancy, staffing, acquisitions and the industry’s place in value-based care – among others. Of course, the COVID-19 vaccine rollout and subsequent mandate were top-of-mind the entire year as well. The Biden administration sought to boost lagging staff vaccine rates […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has suspended its vaccine mandate for health care staff, including those who work in nursing homes, so long as court injunctions remain in effect. CMS announced the mandate suspension in a memo on Thursday, adding that it has appealed both court decisions and has filed motions for […]
Some nursing home advocacy groups and operators, upon the Thursday release of the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate guidance, say execution will only make the current workforce crisis worse. Others believe employer-initiated mandates indicate less of a workforce loss, with operators like St. Louis, Mo.-based St. Andrew’s Resources for Seniors System (STARRS) losing less than 2% […]
As Medicare Advantage enrollment continues to climb and operators look for a seat at the table, ProMedica Senior Care President Angela Brandt believes now is the time to recognize the role long-term care facilities can play in value-based payment. “We all have to get comfortable with where we add value for the health care continuum […]
Operators were left scratching their heads when the Biden administration “singled out” nursing home staff in its vaccine mandate, noting their residents are interacting with many more people — who don’t have such requirements — across the health care continuum. “Our residents go all over the place… 50% of our cases in the last month, […]
While the skilled nursing industry awaits further guidance on what the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate for nursing home staff will entail, Mark Parkinson, president and CEO of the American Health Care Association (AHCA), is calling on government officials to not only mandate the vaccine for all health care settings, but to provide an alternative to […]
Following the Biden administration’s announcement that all nursing home staff must be vaccinated against COVID-19 or risk losing Medicare and Medicaid funding, operators and senior living organization leaders fear singling out one group of health care workers will only exacerbate a continued staffing crisis. Some state mandates, on the other hand, call on all health […]
With one of the lowest staff vaccination rates in the country — 45.8% compared to the national average of 59.3% —Florida operators may have a tough road ahead of them as the emergence of the delta variant and an easing of state and federal mandates has created a flood of new cases at local hospitals. […]
Sabra Health Care REIT (Nasdaq: SBRA) during its second quarter earnings call reported a steady increase in occupancy since December of its top eight skilled nursing operators, which make up 71% of the company’s SNF rent. The Irvine, Calif.-based real estate investment trust (REIT) noted an average occupancy gain of 601 basis points from the […]
Several factors continue to push patient care inside the home including health care waivers, patient preference, proposed legislation and an incentive to keep patients out of hospitals during the pandemic, as 32 states now offer hospital care at-home services as of July 27. While the clinical capabilities of in-home care remain limited, some operators are […]
Reimbursement for Medicare Part B therapy services continues to dry up despite government cash infusions, a concerning trend for rehabilitation providers, operators and the associations that represent them. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has suggested about 2% in cuts to Part B physical and occupational therapy rates as part of its 2022 […]
At a time when the patient population is becoming increasingly complex and conversations continue to be had over where clinical care is best provided, ArchCare President and CEO Scott LaRue believes now is the time for the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) to pick up steam. LaRue has been at the helm […]
Senior care advocacy group LeadingAge on Monday became the latest organization to call for vaccine mandates among long-term care providers, encouraging its members to make the shots a condition of employment. The push comes as COVID-19 cases rise, linked to the delta variant and lagging vaccination rates among nursing home workers. Roughly 83% of new […]
With fewer hospital referrals coming in, and a sicker patient population post-COVID, some operators are finding ways to stand out by specializing in specific areas of medicine to help bring in higher acuity patients. As Martin Siefering, principal at architecture firm Perkins Eastman, put it, nursing homes have more beds than they need right now […]
As nursing home operators introduce more sophisticated monitoring technology to their facilities, the benefits of such tools sit on a knife’s edge. Monitoring platforms may help caregivers do more with less during a pandemic-exacerbated staffing crisis. It’s also possible that operators can open themselves up to potential litigation, depending on if they have the staff […]
Ignite Medical Resorts, a short-term rehabilitation and nursing care provider that reimagines the traditional post-acute experience with “luxury resorts,” opened three new buildings during COVID-19 and has no plans of slowing down. The Illinois-based provider will look to build more respiratory programs and invest in in-house dialysis units coming out of COVID as it remains […]
Despite low occupancy rates and uncertainty around federal funding, experts say the market for nursing homes has not slowed, as buyers want to get in on the frenzy and are willing to pay near stabilized rates to do so. Some, like Symphony Care Network, with a portfolio that totals more than 30 properties throughout Illinois, […]
The skilled nursing scene is increasingly a sellers market, brokers say, as buyers that adopted a cautious approach during the pandemic have changed tack to pursue transactions. Investment interest is more wide-ranging too, with operators and owners, public and private players ready to bid. As a result, prices in the space have climbed and are […]
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