Recently released research affirmed what skilled nursing operators know all too well: Medicare Advantage requirements are creating impediments to patients’ timely care transitions. That’s according to SNF provider leaders who spoke with Skilled Nursing News (SNN) in the wake of a JAMA study outlining how Medicare Advantage patients averaged longer pre-SNF hospital stays than traditional […]
Demographic pressure, policy reform and digital advances mark 2025 as a defining moment for the skilled nursing sector, and winners will be defined by quality, data-driven decision making, and alignment with value-based care models, according to CliftonLarsonAllen’s (CLA) latest analysis. Operators would do well to realign with reimbursement models, understanding that quality is currency, and […]
While the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) at first was expected to provide financial relief for nursing homes and therapy providers, the finalized rule ended up being more of a mixed bag. Adjustments made to the PFS will result in lower payments for some physicians, especially those treating nursing homes patients, and an “efficiency […]
Fragmented Medicaid coverage coupled with the lack of a dental benefit under traditional Medicare leads to poor oral health outcomes for older adults in nursing homes. Staffing shortages and rural access issues compound the problem. This is the conclusion of an issue brief from Justice in Aging, a national organization focused on helping seniors from […]
Family and patient mistrust of nursing home providers can create a barrier to care. A multidisciplinary team is needed to craft care plans and rebuild trust after something goes wrong. That’s according to a case study presented by Cleveland Clinic geriatrician Luke Dogyun Kim, M.D., at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the American Geriatrics Society. […]
Skilled nursing providers are adapting to a new, post-pandemic landscape for working with acute-care partners and participating in value-based care models like accountable care organizations (ACOs). However, it remains essential for SNF providers to get a seat at the table early in the process and play a role in building partnership models. These are some […]
The federal government shutdown that began on Oct. 1 is likely to cause minimal disruption to nursing home operations, but surveyors will be adhering to contingency plans and providers are concerned about reduced telehealth access. “Seniors, their loved ones, and their caregivers can rest easy that their long term and postacute care will be minimally […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is making several updates to the Civil Monetary Penalty Reinvestment Program (CMPRP), including changes to how nursing homes apply for funds and the types of projects that these funds are available to support. Among the changes, CMS is accepting applications for workforce enhancement projects that will “complement” […]
In the aftermath of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), hospital funding cuts could disrupt care coordination, delay discharges, and heighten competition with nursing homes for Medicaid resources. But nursing home providers also could have new opportunities to strengthen their relationships with hospitals and achieve some long-sought policy wins. One major shift that nursing […]
By Kristin Carroll Skilled nursing facilities can leverage the Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM) to provide more palliative care to people near the end of life, helping to drive value-based care goals while improving the patient experience. However, much more needs to be done on the policy level to disrupt the current status quo, in […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is taking steps to rescind the controversial federal staffing mandate for nursing homes. The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is reviewing an Interim Final Rule from CMS with the title “Repeal of Minimum Staffing Standards for Long-Term Care Facilities,” according to an online posting […]
The Trump administration’s approach to regulation is creating long-sought opportunities for nursing home providers to have more say in shaping policies, but providers must do a better job of promoting the areas in which they excel. Steve LaForte, CFO and principal at Cascadia Healthcare, describes the new administration’s approach as “rational regulation” – a way […]
The success of skilled nursing and long-term care providers today and in the future is increasingly tied to how swiftly and successfully they can adapt to a world in which complex care is rapidly migrating out of the hospital. “The health systems, hospitals – our acute care partners – are really looking to fine-tune what […]
In addressing challenges that lead to costly coding mistakes in the Minimum Data Set (MDS), nursing home providers are not only amping up their use of technology but finding unique ways to boost cross-team collaboration as well as reduce burnout among MDS coordinators. Many providers are still struggling with documentation errors, undercoding, and operational challenges […]
Amid economic uncertainty and a phased rollout of significant federal funding cuts over the next three to five years, future reimbursement projections appear grim, and nursing homes shouldn’t delay dealmaking, especially if operators are planning to sell. This view is held by financial experts who note that while the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act […]
Fee-for-service Medicare’s skilled nursing facility (SNF) utilization remained stable at 22.7%, unchanged in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to the same period a year ago, as Medicare Advantage penetration continued to grow, according to the latest Trella Health 2025 Post-Acute Care Industry Trend Report, released Monday. Moreover, FFS nursing home utilization rates varied widely […]
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) spared nursing homes from deep cuts, at least on the surface, carving out facilities from a provider tax reduction. But, the phasing down of provider tax for managed care organizations (MCOs) may still have an indirect impact on the industry, Macquarie Equity Research analyst Tao Qiu said in […]
The time is ripe to reconsider an integrated ACO model for dually eligible patients, many of whom need nursing home care. Integration could happen via mandated relationships between Medicare ACOs and state Medicaid agencies, especially for plans serving a high number of dual-eligible beneficiaries. Such a strategy could help the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid […]
The recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) could have a disproportionate impact on nursing home residents eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, often referred to as “dual eligibles.” These residents often face fragmented care, higher costs and poor outcomes as a result of misaligned systems. While the OBBBA doesn’t target this population directly, […]
Editor’s note: President Donald Trump signed the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) into law Friday, a day after it was narrowly passed by Congress. The House passed the reconciliation bill on Thursday with the Senate-passed version largely intact. While the bill included some nursing home-friendly provisions – such as a 10-year delay on […]
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