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 […]
Category: Medicare
As the SNF sector enters its third year under the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM), data analytics and consulting firms like Zimmet Healthcare Services Group are finding stark differences in reimbursement levels between top-performing operators and those at the bottom of the barrel. For one, the top 10% of SNF providers have rates $70 over the […]
As therapy providers in the nursing home setting, among other health care workers, are expected to absorb a finalized 4.4% cut to the 2023 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS), those impacted aren’t so sure Congress will help offset the decrease like they’ve done in years past. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) finalized the […]
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 […]
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 […]
An already risky move to turnaround a building on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Special Focus Facility list may become an even greater challenge. Those that have taken on the task say recent punitive restrictions could mean less operators will opt to purchase these types of facilities in future. In turn, especially […]
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 […]
After facing closure and revoked federal dollars, one of the largest nursing homes in the country this week had a change in fortune. Officials agreed to grant San Francisco-based Laguna Honda Hospital & Rehabilitation an extended reprieve to keep its doors open and funding flowing. Updates follow negotiations between the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid […]
By Austin Montgomery The National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC) has chosen a familiar face to succeed president and CEO Brian Jurutka – former board member and previous NIC chairperson Raymond Braun is set to take on the role immediately. Braun most recently served as dean of the Allen W. and Carol […]
The sale of bankrupt Iowa-based QHC facilities may be blocked — again — this time by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The federal agency is concerned the deal will not cover $1 million owed to it. Blue Diamond Equities, a New Jersey-based privately owned real estate holdings and management company, proposed to […]
While the spotlight on skilled nursing continues to shine bright, an election year has advocacy groups certain that legislative efforts will be pared down to just a couple key pieces Congress aims to tackle this fall. Policy dedicated to boosting a floundering workforce, expanding telehealth beyond public health emergency (PHE) waivers, and streamlining authorization processes […]
Nursing home leaders have largely steered clear of making predictions given the events of the last two-plus years, but the head of the sector’s largest trade group confidently made one Monday. “One thing that I am sure about, and that I see very clearly is my prediction, and that is that you and your team […]
As Medicare Advantage (MA) plans continue to expand in benefits and number of beneficiaries, nursing home operators are weighing their options on how to adapt. “If you start to think about positioning with your relationships, with these types of organizations, be it a provider network, a member that has an Institutional Special Needs Plan (I-SNP) […]
While so many nursing home trends have been altered by the pandemic, one has interestingly stayed in line with pre-pandemic statistics: Medicare Advantage’s (MA) growth trajectory. MA is still expected to cover 52.9% of all Medicare beneficiaries by 2031, according to Fred Bentley, managing director at ATI Advisory. Bentley spoke about Medicare’s evolution and its […]
As colder temperatures bring flu season and the likelihood of higher Covid cases, the nation’s most frail population — and the workers that care for them — can only benefit from a fall Covid booster campaign, researchers say. Federal dollars to pay for a campaign, however, have dwindled. A recent study conducted by the Commonwealth […]
The nation’s highest court has declined to weigh in on a case involving a federal arbitration rule that nursing home industry groups argue places “burdensome” requirements on facilities. The U.S. Supreme Court denied the petition on Monday for a writ of certiorari in the case of Northport Health Services of Arkansas, LLC v. Department of […]
Real estate investment trust (REIT) dealmaking for the rest of this year and into 2023 will largely be driven by the desire to deepen existing or secure new partnerships with skilled nursing operators that have “weathered the storm exceptionally well.” That’s according to Michael Segal, executive managing director and partner at Blueprint Healthcare Real Estate […]
As federal minimum staffing requirements loom for skilled nursing providers, analysts with the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) unveiled crucial data detailing the effects of state-level standards on the industry. While research found state minimum staffing requirements increased staffing levels and in some cases improved quality measures, there were some unintended consequences: a decrease in […]
A case to determine if state-owned nursing homes are shielded from federal lawsuits – to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court in November – received more than 20 amicus briefs last week. The flood of briefs filed in September are in support of Ivanka Talevski, wife of former nursing home resident Gorgi Talevski, suing […]
There has been an increasing call to separate long-term and short-term care in the nursing home sector as acuity rises and facilities take on more specialities, all while facing a staffing shortage. Academics, finance leaders and some operators agree such a separation would be a positive for residents — and maybe even help the staffing […]