‘It’s Not That Easy’: What Skilled Nursing Operators Should Consider Before Launching — or Joining — an I-SNP

On paper, a skilled nursing facility starting its own specialty Medicare Advantage plan sounds like an easy decision: In an era of tight reimbursements, staffing pressures, and length-of-stay declines, why not control the payment source that so frequently vexes them? But according to René Lerer, the calculus for Institutional Special Needs Plans (I-SNPs) just isn’t […]

Despite Concerns, HUD Lending for Nursing Homes Saw Slight Uptick in 2019 with $3.7B in Endorsements

Despite an extended government shutdown and some negative press, the federal lending program for nursing facilities and other health care properties saw a slight boost in overall dollar volume for the year — even as the absolute number of deals experienced a dip. The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Section 232 program for skilled […]

By Targeting Skilled Nursing Ownership Transfers, States Look to Prevent More Skyline-Style Implosions

The swift expansion and equally rapid flameout of one skilled nursing provider left its mark on several states in the form of sudden state takeovers, drawn-out receiverships, and several closures. That company — Skyline Healthcare — may also leave a more lasting legacy in the form of stricter vetting of new operators in multiple states. […]

Providers, CMS Must ‘Band Together’ to Improve Skilled Nursing Care for Behavioral, Mental Health Patients

In a health care landscape full of challenges, staffing consistently ranks as the top concern for skilled nursing facilities. But the second-most prevalent concern is patients and residents who have mental health needs and substance use disorders, according to a top federal official — and there are no easy answers for how SNFs should cope. […]

Therapy Cuts Were ‘Inevitable’ Under PDPM — and Providers Must Prepare for Possible Payment Drops

Reports of therapist layoffs and cuts in therapy hours hit the news within days of the implementation of the new Medicare reimbursement system for skilled nursing facilities, sending shock waves throughout the rehab provider community. But according to one major skilled nursing trade group, the cuts to therapy were baked into the system of the […]

Why Genesis Sees Opportunity in China’s Post-Acute Care Vacuum

The massive purchasing power of China’s population draws businesses from across the world, and one major post-acute player sees opportunity to thrive by introducing rehabilitation services to the country’s health care system. But to do that, Genesis HealthCare (NYSE: GEN) had to overcome the challenges of breaking into the notoriously challenging market, and learned some […]

‘CMS is Watching’: Changing Therapy Patterns Raise Concerns About Skilled Nursing Audits, Care Quality

The first week of the new Medicare payment model for nursing homes has brought stories of rapidly shifting therapy patterns among some providers, and voices from the consulting and advocacy worlds are warning that any sudden movements could cause adverse effects — both immediately and down the road. The advent of the Patient-Driven Payment Model […]

Therapy’s PDPM Paradox: Clinicians Have More Control, But Smaller Rehab Staffs Needed for Now

The new Medicare payment model for nursing homes took effect this week with a bang, as therapists across the nation criticized a wave of staffing reductions in the immediate wake of the October 1 start date. Several companies implemented workforce cuts as the federal government shifted to the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM), which moves incentives […]

Each Medicare Advantage Plan Can Treat PDPM Differently — and SNFs’ Mileage Will Vary

Skilled nursing providers looking for a simple answer to how managed care plans will react to the new Medicare payment model will likely have to face an inconvenient truth: It’s complicated. Private Medicare Advantage insurers didn’t have to follow the old Resource Utilization Group (RUG) model when deciding how to reimburse for skilled nursing services, […]

It’s Here: Skilled Nursing Providers, Investors Weigh in on PDPM Opportunities, ‘Stumbling Blocks’

The long wait is over: The new Medicare payment system for nursing homes has arrived. October 1 marks the official start of the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM), just about 18 months after the federal government first announced the change in April 2018. Since then, the skilled nursing industry has trained a laser focus on preparations […]

Hospitals Also Face Length of Stay Pressures — and Skilled Nursing Can Help Ease The Burden

The relationship between skilled nursing facilities and their referring hospital partnerships can be a rocky one for both sides. But in an ideal world, it should be a partnership, with each willing to work together to achieve top patient and resident outcomes. For Sue Craft, the vice president of inpatient case management and post-acute services […]

New CMS Rule Requires Hospitals to Provide Skilled Nursing Quality Data at Discharge

The federal government issued a final rule on Thursday requiring hospitals to give patients access to more information about the post-acute provider choices available — including data on how their post-acute options perform on quality measures such as pressure ulcers, falls, and readmissions. This new rule will not have any impact on anti-steering regulations that […]