When looking at the 4.2% Medicare increase in the Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (SNF PPS) for 2025, some leaders in the space wonder if the rate calculated has been inadequate considering inflation, labor woes, and funds needed to meet the federal staffing mandate. Some even argue that rate increases are so far behind […]
As the Medicaid payment system transitions across states from RUGS to the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM), nursing home operators must be wary of misconceptions – including that the transitions will always lead to additional Medicaid funds being available – while putting in place the right practices to ensure appropriate payments. The complexities of Medicaid transitions […]
Right-sizing is crucial and tricky for nursing home operators, as demographics are driving demand but also contributing to labor shortages. Ultimately, providers must weigh several factors in order to create businesses that are successful today and sustainable for the future. “It’s about the right service offerings, which sometimes means shrinking your physical footprint and asking, […]
A resolution to the lawsuit challenging the nursing home federal minimum staffing mandate could be reached as early as January, if the court finalizes a proposed schedule put forth by the American Health Care Association (AHCA), LeadingAge and other industry leaders. If this turns out to be the case, the lawsuit would be resolved more […]
Delivering care to dual eligible nursing home residents can be complex with so many payers involved in the industry, but aligning incentives, quality measures and tools for providers can help operators serve this demographic. Dual eligible residents, or those that can receive benefits from both Medicare and Medicaid, often find themselves in a “tangled web […]
Quantity, by virtue of an aggressive growth strategy at PACS Group (NYSE: PACS), has not impacted quality at its facilities, executives said. In fact the opposite has been true, and the resulting quality gains are also one of the reasons for the company’s strong second quarter. The company’s model is based on successfully turning around […]
The new facility assessments for nursing homes, which went into effect on Thursday, are prompting mixed reviews from nursing home operators regarding their utility. The feedback ranges from assessments being a surprisingly useful tool for enhancing transparency in communication and fine-tuning staffing needs for ever-changing patient acuity, to concerns that they are costly and redundant. […]
Reimbursement trends among nursing homes remain positive while investment opportunities are rising, said leaders at Sabra Health Care REIT Inc. (Nasdaq: SBRA), who also noted that the company’s occupancy recovery looks promising. During the second quarter, Sabra reported net income of 10 cents per diluted common share, a slight decrease compared to 9 cents in […]
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 […]
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