Despite the sector continuing to grapple with staffing shortages, rising operational costs, and regulatory uncertainty, emerging trends have skilled nursing leaders gearing up for a positive 2025, with fewer challenges and more opportunities on the horizon. As we look ahead, several key trends are expected to shape the sector from regulatory shifts to financial turbulence, […]
For some nursing home providers, adding new business lines and more brick-and-mortar locations ensures greater longevity by providing better cushioning against larger economic forces. This philosophy allows for a lot of freedom when growing the business, and it keeps nursing home operators from sitting still in a challenging and constantly changing environment. According to Leslie […]
While many providers offer a continuum of care for older adults, Trilogy Health Services CEO Leigh Ann Barney describes the company as something of a “unicorn” in its commitment to offering a full continuum — including skilled nursing — at scale. Indeed, the commitment to skilled nursing as part of a larger continuum is part […]
It’s no surprise that the Biden administration’s minimum staffing mandate was the source of Skilled Nursing News’ most-read story of 2024. From the proposal stage to its final form, our stories on the staffing mandate covered all aspects of its requirements as well as the legal and legislative challenges against it. Our stories about the […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued details on a national staffing campaign for the nursing home sector, aimed at increasing the number of nurses working in nursing homes and at state agencies that inspect nursing homes for compliance. The campaign continues the initiatives outlined in April, which ties $75 million funded […]
The nursing home industry has been on a wild ride this past year, with major regulation up in the air and a flip in the White House leaving operators unsure of whether they should applaud or brace for impact. Rhetoric surrounding the federal minimum staffing mandate has changed drastically throughout the year, with leaders condemning […]
Nursing home leaders are anticipating big changes to the sector with President Donald Trump’s inauguration drawing closer. The federal staffing mandate is likely to be on the chopping block, as Republicans eye $22 billion in savings if it is delayed or stopped. However, operators must balance this win, among potential others, with the incoming administration’s […]
Heading into 2025, EF Senior Care continues to seek opportunities for expansion after acquiring nursing homes in the last two years, signaling a positive trend for smaller-sized outfits in the sector, especially those looking to leverage their consulting experience. The Massachusetts-based provider, which started out solely as a consulting firm before purchasing two skilled nursing […]
Rick Matros, CEO of Sabra Healthcare REIT (Nasdaq: SBRA), has seen financing come back in a much bigger way for senior housing, compared to nursing homes. Lenders are a lot more selective, and facilities are still recovering from the pandemic years. In terms of the types of financing, particularly with the U.S. Department of Housing […]
In the litigation against the federal nursing home staffing mandate, in which state attorneys general from 20 states are seeking a temporary halt, a federal judge heard oral arguments from both the government and the states on Thursday. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) urged the federal judge to deny the injunctive relief requested by […]
Sufficient reimbursement, less regulation and adequate staffing are all attractive features for dealmaking, impacting operator decisions on which states and regions offer the path of least resistance when it comes to expanding their footprint. It may boil down to price per bed and the ease of the change of ownership (CHOW) process when determining desirability […]
Federal agencies are honing in on ownership transparency and corporate-level compliance, most recently with the Office of Inspector General (OIG) citing concerns about certain practices that allow nursing homes to hide profits. OIG’s latest guidance focuses on the practice of “tunneling,” which refers to the misrepresentation or concealment of profitability in payments to related parties, […]
Frontline staffing has gotten a bit easier for nursing home providers, with a stronger influx of job candidates. But competition in the sector is so strong that a new hire might leave for a better opportunity before long. With this as the backdrop, onboarding has become a particularly crucial time for operators to implement retention […]
Surveyors will be evaluating for compliance in new ways, as a result of nursing home survey changes for 2025. While significant, these changes reflect federal initiatives that associations and operators have been seeing for some time now. Nursing home providers are parsing through recent, significant changes to the survey process and trying to grasp the […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is taking new steps to improve Medicare Advantage (MA) access and transparency, including reforms to prior authorizations and the use of AI tools to deny coverage, as outlined in the 2026 Medicare Advantage and Part D proposed rule, officials said during a call on Tuesday. The Contract […]
In the latest development related to litigation against the federal nursing home staffing mandate, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is urging a federal judge to deny the injunctive relief requested by 21 state attorneys general and several providers. The DOJ on Nov. 21 filed a memo with the U.S. District Court for the Northern […]
Programs to cultivate leaders in the nursing home space, including the administrator-in-training program (AIT), are being challenged by rapid turnover and the need for better reimbursement and support systems. But, a focus on company culture, offering of diverse pathways for those seeking leadership positions, and a willingness to show prospective leaders a behind-the-scenes look, makes […]
Ensign Group (Nasdaq: ENSG) executives offered an optimistic outlook for the sector and the company’s future, driven by operational improvements, disciplined acquisitions, and the potential easing of regulations and steady reimbursement rates under President-elect Donald Trump, with the minimum staffing mandate likely never seeing the light of day. “Our overall take on [the incoming administration] […]
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is set to implement a series of major revisions to its long-term care survey guidelines, effective February 2025. The changes, which were shared in an advance copy of a 900-page document, focus on a variety of areas, ranging from admission agreements and medication management to infection control […]
Of the many significant factors affecting the skilled nursing industry in the last five years, Medicare Advantage was named as a major disruptor, as cost reports show a shift in operating margins with more facilities struggling financially. Stephen Taylor, principal of senior living and care segment leader for CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA), said MA has had “one […]
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