Clif Porter, president and CEO of the largest advocacy group for nursing homes in America, said that among the year’s major wins for the sector – such as the freeze on provider taxes – were hard-won battles, but certainly a welcome development amid looming challenges and the current economic climate. In an exclusive interview with […]
The nursing home sector hopes to move away from outdated, punitive oversight and toward a more constructive, modern regulatory model in 2026 and beyond – an approach Clif Porter, president and CEO of the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), has been tirelessly working to achieve and refers to as […]
Having the right staff is key for skilled nursing providers to remain financially viable in a volatile market, and with recent regulatory changes, planning for higher acuity patients takes priority. These are some of the takeaways leaders from Journey Skilled Nursing and Ocean Healthcare shared during a panel discussion at the recent Skilled Nursing News’ […]
As census rebounds across nursing homes, the growing influence – and financial strain – of Medicare Advantage is pushing providers to rethink both their payer mix and physical design of buildings. While the industry is clearly moving toward Medicare Advantage and value-based care models – and making accommodations to balance quality care with reduced reimbursement […]
Family and patient mistrust of nursing home providers can create a barrier to care. A multidisciplinary team is needed to craft care plans and rebuild trust after something goes wrong. That’s according to a case study presented by Cleveland Clinic geriatrician Luke Dogyun Kim, M.D., at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the American Geriatrics Society. […]
As of October 2025, CMS has officially removed Section R from the Minimum Data Set (MDS), eliminating four items related to social determinants of health (SDOH), including questions on food security, housing, and utilities. The finalized change, initially unexpected, is influencing how skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) approach discharge planning and resident care coordination, and it […]
Skilled nursing providers are adapting to a new, post-pandemic landscape for working with acute-care partners and participating in value-based care models like accountable care organizations (ACOs). However, it remains essential for SNF providers to get a seat at the table early in the process and play a role in building partnership models. These are some […]
Technology is shaping operations, care delivery, staffing, and regulatory risk management in nursing homes, and its deployment, long thought to be behind the times, is finally catching up to other sectors within the health care continuum. From a regulatory and risk management perspective, Brickyard Healthcare’s chief clinical officer, Lisa Chubb, said that the use of […]
The number of Medicare Advantage Institutional Special Needs Plans (I-SNPs) is down 5% for plan year 2026, but the number of I-SNPs led by a provider organization is up. This was one finding from an ATI Advisory analysis of Medicare Advantage (MA) plan offerings, which were the topic of an Oct. 1 webinar. Despite the […]
Leadership at Cascadia Healthcare, which operates 25 facilities in Idaho, is raising the alarm over recent back-to-back Medicaid rate cuts in the state, warning that they threaten not only facility closures but could also impact the entire health care ecosystem. Idaho lowered its Medicaid reimbursement rate by 4% on Sept. 1, after lowering rates 3% […]
Having acquired the real estate of 18 facilities over a period of 18 months, Creative Solutions in Healthcare is moving forward with an accelerated growth strategy underpinned by HUD financing. “Since we’ve operated across most markets in Texas, we’ve built a deep understanding of where we perform the best, both urban and rural,” Chris Eamiguel, […]
In the latest Minimum Data Set (MDS), effective on Oct. 1, providers will need to pay close attention to definition changes, including the term used to define gender, as well as to the sections on Falls and Therapy Services, which have become known as major sources of compliance errors and revenue loss. Sector experts advise […]
The rise of Medicare Advantage has created problems related to skilled nursing, including “unneeded and unnecessary care delays,” according to Trilogy Health Services Chief Medical Officer Andrew McNamara, M.D. However, SNF providers also have to better understand Medicare Advantage in order to address these issues, McNamara told Skilled Nursing News in an interview that has […]
While census remains strong at nursing homes, certain factors – such as insufficient hiring of skilled clinical workers and limited use of technology and AI tools to align with referral partners and hospitals – could negatively impact census. Andy Frasure, COO of Larry H. Miller Senior Health, and Steve Hart, COO of Heritage Operations Group, […]
Long-term care pharmacy Omnicare has entered into Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings and is considering various paths forward, including a standalone restructuring or a sale. Omnicare is a subsidiary of CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) and provides pharmacy services to the long-term care market, including skilled nursing facilities, independent living communities and assisted living communities. The LTC […]
A proposal from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to phase out a list of inpatient-only hospital procedures threatens skilled nursing facility (SNF) access if the so-called three-day stay rule is not eliminated, and also should prompt bigger thinking about the role SNFs can and should play in the U.S. health care system. […]
By Kristin Carroll Increased resident satisfaction is the top benefit that nursing home providers are hoping to achieve by implementing more technology in their dining and environmental services. That’s according to a survey of nursing home providers conducted by Skilled Nursing News in early summer 2025. The survey focused on strategies for managing environmental, dining, […]
Despite macroeconomic and regulatory uncertainties, the investment outlook for skilled nursing and assisted living is robust. That’s according to panelists at Skilled Nursing News’ recent RETHINK conference, who highlighted that conditions are finally normalizing in the skilled nursing space, five years after the COVID-19 pandemic struck. “The COVID hangover is over,” said Sam Bechthold, chief […]
In their quest to reduce hospitalizations and improve patient outcomes, nursing home providers should not underestimate the difference that strong hydration and nutrition programs can make. This was one theme of the recent Skilled Nursing News RETHINK Conference in Chicago, where leaders with various providers spoke of their companies’ efforts and achievements in these areas. […]
Hospital length of stay has been increasing more dramatically for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries than traditional Medicare beneficiaries, and this trend is especially pronounced for people who are discharged to a skilled nursing facility. This is according to an article recently published in JAMA Internal Medicine. In the third quarter of 2023, hospital patients on Medicare […]
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