2023 Skilled Nursing Investment Outlook Hinges on Interest Rates, Medicaid Rebasing 

On Friday, news broke that the Ohio House approved $615 million in funding for the state’s skilled nursing facilities. Also on Friday, stocks were roiled by a better-than-expected federal jobs report, which stoked expectations of further interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve. These dynamics — funding measures at the state level and rising interest […]

Ensign Leaders on Acquisition Strategy, Tripledemic Demands, PHE Relief

As one of, if not the largest nursing home operator in the country, The Ensign Group (Nasdaq: ENSG) has quickly filled turnaround properties with a robust talent pipeline – including having 30 to 40 administrators-in-training at all times – despite a historic staffing shortage. Leadership also delved into why the Texas Medicaid rate is such […]

Wisconsin Nursing Homes to See Medicaid Rate Increase

Wisconsin nursing home operators are the latest to see an increase to the state’s Medicaid rate at a time when providers across the country are still battling back from significant workforce shortages and historic inflation. Medicaid cost coverage will increase from 77% for fiscal year 2022 to 91% for fiscal year 2023. The new rate […]

What the Eventual End of the Public Health Emergency Will Mean For Nursing Home Operators

Despite the federal government’s likely decision to keep the public health emergency (PHE) in place past January, the nursing home industry continues to prepare for operations without the safety net of certain waivers. Leaders in the space say any continuation of PHE waivers – temporary or permanent – should be dependent on cost and patient […]

Focused Post Acute Care Partners CEO: Texas Medicaid Rate Increase Would Be a ‘Breath of Fresh Air’

As several states across the country have extended or made permanent nursing home Medicaid rate bumps tied to the pandemic, at least in part to stem the tide of high staffing costs and inflationary pressures, Texas operators are anxiously awaiting their fate ahead of next year’s legislative session. Focused Post Acute Care Partners CEO Mark […]

Sabra CEO: North American Portfolio Transition to Ensign, Avamere is ‘Best Possible Outcome’

Nursing home operators continue to reevaluate their position at this stage of the pandemic, as the industry continues to tackle a historic workforce shortage – some, like North American Health Care Inc., have decided to downsize in order to better manage existing properties. This shift to a more conservative strategy serves as the backdrop to […]

Why a Nursing Home Case Heard by SCOTUS Could Have Sweeping Implications 

Larger implications surrounding a nursing home case to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court on Nov. 8 has both operators and civil rights activists anxiously awaiting a decision. For SNF operators, the case could determine whether state-owned nursing homes are shielded from federal lawsuits. Far-reaching questions regarding Medicaid beneficiaries and their rights in federal […]

‘The Haves and Have Nots’: Omega Closely Monitors Moves to Make Medicaid Rate Bumps Permanent

Nursing home sector leaders and financial backers are basing their future plans heavily on Medicaid rate increases seen across the country, as some states meet the moment with substantial increases to combat inflationary pressures and staffing costs. Others, meanwhile, haven’t increased rates in a meaningful way and have not kept pace with increased costs that […]

AHCA’s Parkinson Urges HHS to Extend the Public Health Emergency

As the seasons change and operators brace for a potential “tripledemic” this winter, the nursing home industry’s largest trade group is calling on the federal government to extend the public health emergency beyond its January 2023 end. The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living sent a letter to the U.S. Department […]

How Therapy Providers Can Drive SNF Upside and Optimize Reimbursement

Therapy providers in the nursing home space believe their role in increasing mobility will contribute to upside in the sector – especially within the context of the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM), pandemic recovery and staffing challenges. It’s a draw for prospective residents and their families, both on the short-term and long-term side, as clinical improvements […]

LTC CEO: PruittHealth JV Fits Strategic Vision for Skilled Nursing, Portfolio Performing Well in ‘Less than Stellar’ Conditions 

Leaders with LTC Properties (NYSE: LTC) on Friday expanded more on the company’s joint venture with Georgia-based nursing home operator PruittHealth, while putting recent acquisitions in context of Medicaid rate increases – potential and finalized – across multiple states. The $62 million JV with PruittHealth to purchase three nursing homes in Florida is the real […]

Ensign COO: No Slowing Down on Deals as 3Q Marks Busiest Acquisition Quarter in Years

The Ensign Group (Nasdaq: ENSG) kept busy during the third financial quarter, signing off on a whopping 17 new skilled nursing deals. Ensign COO Chad Keetch told listeners during the company’s latest earnings call on Thursday that it was “one of the biggest” acquisition quarters in several years. The San Juan Capistrano, Calif.-based operator is […]

‘It’s Demoralizing’: Health Management CEO on Misunderstandings that Shape Nursing Home Policy

With major pressure coming down from government entities, further shaped by public perception as the nursing home industry faces a crushing staffing crisis, shared accountability among operators, their lobbying representatives and resident advocates has become even more important. Health Management CEO Debbie Meade has a seat at the table, with roles at the American Health […]

The Future of Labor Activism in Nursing Homes

Despite the nursing home industry being in the grips of a staffing crisis – with more leverage in the hands of direct care workers – unionization in the space hasn’t taken off across the country like many were expecting. Instead, national unionization in the sector slowly increased from just under 10% in 2010 to 16.8% […]

ESI Closes California SNF Deal for $25M; Blueprint Advises Sale of Pennsylvania Nursing Home to Tryko Partners

Evans Senior Investments (ESI) arranged the sale of a 138-bed skilled nursing facility in Anaheim, Calif. for $25 million or $181,159 per bed. The buyer, an East Coast real estate holding company, structured the lease with a local owner/operator in the state, according to the real estate brokerage firm. Operating long-term care assets in today’s […]

Nursing Home Industry Recovery Requires More Pain and Innovation

It’s hard to pin down how nursing home operators should be feeling as the end of the year approaches. The best way I could describe it, one week after attending the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) conference in Nashville, is a combination of optimism and pessimism that fluctuates depending on the […]

Why A.G. Rhodes is in a ‘Uniquely Competitive Position’ Amid Industry Ownership Upheaval, Obstacles

In spite of current trends suggesting a skilled nursing ownership shakeup, particularly an uptick in nonprofit operators either closing completely or selling to for-profit operators, one leader in the space has a differing view on their role in the sector. Georgia-based nonprofit A.G. Rhodes CEO Deke Cateau thinks that amid all of this change coming […]