The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has overturned an Obama-era ban on the use of pre-dispute, binding arbitration agreements by skilled nursing facilities. But providers might still think twice about using these agreements, due to certain consumer protection provisions in CMS’ final rule. In fact, the protections for SNF residents and their families […]
With the Medicare Part A reimbursement overhaul taking effect in just a few months, skilled nursing providers across the country are in countdown mode. But the clock is moving at different paces for different providers, several experts said. Some SNFs began their analysis and preparations months ago; others are barely getting started. That’s led to […]
In the current post-acute care landscape, hospitals reign supreme, helping to decide the fates of the players farther down the care continuum. In recent years, skilled nursing facilities have suffered under hospitals’ watch, as the acute providers increasingly shift post-acute residents to the cheaper home health setting. But at least one provider says it’s time […]
As Medicare Advantage continues to gobble up an increasing share of skilled nursing reimbursements, more providers are exploring the idea of launching their own plans — and while the numbers are small, the opportunity can be great. Specifically, SNF providers can launch Institutional Special Needs Plans, or I-SNPs, a specific type of Medicare Advantage plan […]
Skilled nursing facilities could see relief from regulatory burdens if a proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) takes effect, and according to the agency, it could lead to millions in savings. Specifically, the rule would overhaul multiple requirements and delay the implementation of regulations related to the Quality Assurance and […]
The federal government on Tuesday finalized a rule that allows skilled nursing operators to use arbitration agreements with their residents, while also proposing a new rule to reduce paperwork burdens that would delay certain aspects of the Requirements of Participation. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) struck something of a compromise with the […]
The release of a so-called “secret” list of nursing homes considered for inclusion in a program for the nation’s worst properties sent shockwaves through the industry early last month — but the man in charge of the for-profit space’s primary trade group says the sunshine is ultimately a good thing for operators. As the skilled […]
The Elderwood chain has been on an acquisition kick in the upstate New York region over the past year, with purchases ranging from assisted living to skilled nursing — and backing from a corporate parent that took a unique route into the SNF world. Post Acute Partners co-founders and co-CEOs Warren Cole and Dr. Jeffrey […]
When a skilled nursing provider enters receivership or bankruptcy, the safety and wellbeing of the residents is the top priority for all parties involved. The financial struggles raise questions about the continued provision of necessary care, and the safe transfer of operations becomes paramount. But in many recent SNF bankruptcies, or cases where a SNF […]
The federal government on Wednesday unveiled a new proposed payment model for certain kidney-related conditions, and several providers in the space say it could have serious potential for skilled nursing operators. Under the proposed End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Treatment Choices (ETC) model, Medicare would expand coverage of care for kidney diseases and offer financial incentives […]
As the skilled nursing industry continues to move toward higher-acuity residents, many senior living operators have abandoned the space entirely, preferring to leave the increasingly medical business to standalone buildings and rehab partners. But one family-owned operator in Northeast Ohio — which started out in the SNF world five decades ago — believes the future […]
Under the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM), reimbursement for Medicare Part A patients in skilled nursing facilities will be driven by patient condition, rather than by therapy minutes provided to that patient. It’s a change that the industry has hailed as an opportunity to receive financial credit for the care that they’re already providing, but they […]
Several states across the U.S. have eyed managed long-term services and supports as a way to reduce their Medicaid spend, but the state of New York — which made the move in the early part of the decade — is now taking a step back. Specifically, the Empire State is looking to move the long-term […]
The state of Oklahoma has had the dubious distinction of ranking near the bottom in both Medicaid reimbursement for skilled nursing facilities and in the quality of care provided at those facilities. But legislation recently enacted by the Sooner State aims to change that, by bolstering reimbursement for SNFs — if they can make improvements […]
Skilled nursing-focused telehealth provider Call9 attracted $34 million in venture capital from sources as diverse as the former chairman of tech incubator Y Combinator to actor Ashton Kutcher. But in the end, that cash and high-profile attention wasn’t enough to carry Call9, which is in the midst of suspending its operations, to success in today’s […]
The federal government’s lending program for nursing homes has come under national scrutiny in the wake of a record-setting default, but financial leaders in the space say the initiative is vital to the overall health of the industry. The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Section 232 program gives skilled nursing operators and investors […]
Private equity interest and investment in the skilled nursing space is growing as the sector goes through rounds of tumult and transformation. The trend was apparent in 2018, even though most of the private equity interest focused on senior housing. As real estate investment trusts (REITs) sold off their underperforming SNF assets, private equity buyers […]
Call9, a startup that raised tens of millions of dollars to expand its model of in-house emergency care at skilled nursing facilities, is winding down operations and restructuring its remaining assets. CNBC first reported the news Tuesday afternoon; about 100 employees have been laid off as part of the wind-down process, according to the outlet. […]
The state of New York is proposing a change in the way it calculates the case mix that sets Medicaid reimbursements for skilled nursing facilities — with the goal of realizing $246 million in net savings. If it is finalized, that could mean a significant cut in Medicaid reimbursements for nursing home providers in the […]
With the U.S. health care system lumbering toward value-based care and grappling with how to match payments with outcomes, accountable care organizations (ACOs) have come under the spotlight. But despite conflicting reports about their capacity to produce savings and improve care, one operator tells Skilled Nursing News that there is no doubt about one thing: […]
By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. More Information
The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. For more information, see our cookie policy.
