Why Nursing Homes Could Be A Crucial Bridge to Recovery for Opioid Patients

Nursing homes could offer a crucial bridge to recovery for patients with opioid use disorder (OUD), but stigma, regulatory hurdles and funding challenges limit their potential. Researchers have highlighted policy solutions to ensure nursing homes can meet the needs of a growing and aging population with OUD, as part of a study led by Patience […]

Medicare Advantage Proves To Be the ‘Most Profound’ Disruptor for Nursing Homes, Reshaping Payer Dynamics

Of the many significant factors affecting the skilled nursing industry in the last five years, Medicare Advantage was named as a major disruptor, as cost reports show a shift in operating margins with more facilities struggling financially. Stephen Taylor, principal of senior living and care segment leader for CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA), said MA has had “one […]

PHE Funds Wind-Down Raises Concerns of ‘Severely Restricting’ Access to Nursing Homes

The long-term financial viability of nursing homes will be seriously challenged as operators face the fallout from the complete wind down of public health emergency (PHE) funds. This is especially true for nonprofit organizations, with many facilities unable to fund existing staffing levels. According to a report published in Health Affairs Covid-19 PHE funds allowed […]

After CareTrust’s $500M Deal, Sabra CEO Says No Need for ‘Noise’ of Larger Nursing Home Deals

Sabra Healthcare REIT (Nasdaq: SBRA) has had several quarters in a row of continuing occupancy and rent coverage improvement in all of its primary asset classes, including skilled nursing, distancing themselves from the pandemic, leaders said. Meanwhile, its investment pipeline is seeing more activity in the past months, with primarily deals of one or two […]

CMS Officials Update Nursing Homes on MDS State Assessment Processes, Changes to Social Determinant Items

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will no longer process optional state assessments (OSAs) after Oct. 1, 2025 for providers in states that are still transitioning to the Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM). Moving ahead, CMS will not be involved in whether a state will continue to require the completion and submission of […]

Inside PACS and ArchCare’s Hospital Partnerships: How Nursing Homes Are Working to Alleviate Referral Bottlenecks

Staffing shortages and increased acuity of patients are playing a big role in referral placement, along with preferences and prerequisites of referral sources. This is causing nursing homes and hospitals in high-demand areas to get creative with in-house offerings and hospital partnerships, as they are still experiencing bottlenecks in the referral process. At the same […]

Beyond QAPI’s Clinical Benefits: Nursing Homes Use Data for Successful Acquisitions, Adding Service Lines, Improving Reimbursement

Nursing homes looking to best utilize QAPI, or the quality assurance and performance improvement program, should think beyond the obvious clinical compliance and care benefits to residents. QAPI is usually seen as a way to reduce falls or tighten up medication management, but operators can do a lot more with the data besides using it […]

OSF, Good Samaritan Execs: Improving Metrics Are the Glue Binding Nursing Home-Hospital Relationships

Nursing homes and hospitals are developing closer ties and improving communication, and with this trend, admissions into nursing homes are expected to increase as rehospitalizations and excessive lengths of stay are also seen as declining. With rising acuity and staffing shortages of recent years, nursing homes have often been reluctant in admitting challenging cases that […]

American Senior Communities CEO Talks I-SNP JV, Benefits and Drawbacks of Concentrated Scale

Coming off of his first year as CEO of American Senior Communities Steve Van Camp is busy planning an Institutional Special Needs Plan (I-SNP) joint venture with five other providers in Indiana, while also devoting time and resources to meeting quality measures and outcomes among ASC facilities.  Important considerations to forge ahead with these efforts […]

Hartford Foundation: As 95% of Older Adults Seek to Age in Place, 60% Express Concerns About Nursing Home Quality

Of an estimated 36 million Americans with a family member or friend in a nursing home, only 37% say their loved one is receiving high-quality care. And political affiliation aside, older adults want public policies that support and improve quality care. That’s according to a study issued by The John A. Hartford Foundation. Based on […]

Cuomo, Former Aides Allegedly Manipulated Covid Nursing Home Data, House Investigation Reveals

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, along with some of his top aides at the time, may have allegedly made false or misleading statements during the pandemic or in their testimony to Congress, including manipulating Covid nursing home data. The investigation, helmed by the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, concluded that Cuomo and […]

‘Perfect Fit’: Ensign Acquires 8 Nursing Homes in Colorado and Kansas, with a Chance to Boost Occupancy

The Ensign Group (Nasdaq: ENSG) acquired the operations of the seven skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) in Colorado totaling 760 beds, along with a 102-bed SNF in Kansas, the company announced Tuesday. “We are thrilled to continue our recent expansion in Colorado,” said CEO Barry Port in a press release. “These operations are a perfect fit […]

Five-Property Portfolio Based in Southwest Sells; Marquis Expands With Orthopedic Program

Evans Senior Investments (ESI) arranged the sale of a five-property portfolio in the Southwest, comprising skilled nursing beds and senior housing units. The transaction was carried out on behalf of an unnamed regional owner-operator for an undisclosed amount. Real estate brokerage firm ESI ran a confidential marketing process, engaging with a select group of buyers, […]

CFG Finances $440M in First Half of 2024; New ISNP Launches from American Health Plans JV

Capital Funding Group (CFG) financed more than $440 million in the first half of this year, including 18 health care bridge loans, five multifamily bridge loans and eight HUD loans. Notable transactions included a $42 million HUD financing package for three skilled nursing facilities in Washington and Idaho, along with a $36.2 million bridge-to-HUD loan […]

‘Tug of War’: Inside Navigating the Pitfalls of Dual Eligible Coverage in Nursing Homes

Delivering care to dual eligible nursing home residents can be complex with so many payers involved in the industry, but aligning incentives, quality measures and tools for providers can help operators serve this demographic. Dual eligible residents, or those that can receive benefits from both Medicare and Medicaid, often find themselves in a “tangled web […]

With $270M in the Pipeline, NHI Leaders Eye New Acquisitions After Posting Strong Q2

Looking ahead, leaders at National Health Investors Inc. (NYSE: NHI) are excited about recent investment activity and a growing pipeline of $270 million. The real estate investment trust (REIT) is pursuing several large portfolio deals, along with fee-simple real estate, loans with purchase options and seniors housing opportunities. The Murfreesboro, Tenn.-based company has spent multiple […]

Following Petersen Bankruptcy, Some Nursing Homes Sold, More Placed in Receivership

One of Petersen Health Care’s nursing homes on Monday was placed in receivership, following the Illinois operator’s bankruptcy filing in March.  The Courtyard Estates of Farmington nursing home will now be overseen by a court-appointed receiver, thanks to a deal brokered by the Bank of Farmington, according to a report from Peoria Public Radio. Attorney […]

State Offers Medicaid Funding to Nursing Homes for Private Rooms

Nursing homes in Ohio will soon receive financial incentives for each additional private room they offer, thanks to a proposal recently greenlit by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The initiative, set to launch in the coming months, was developed by the Ohio Department of Medicaid and revises the reimbursement structure for Medicaid-funded […]

‘Extraordinary Achievement’: Care Transition Program in Nursing Homes Reduced Hospital Readmission Rates by 20%

Despite operational and financial headwinds affecting the nursing home sector currently, a transitional care program and physiatry partnership has been able to cut readmission rates from 29% to 9% among a group of facilities. OSF HealthCare, a 17-hospital system in Illinois and Michigan, partnered with physiatry and care coordination management group Puzzle Healthcare to deliver […]

‘Everyone Is Reevaluating’: Onerous Survey Process Is Latest Challenge to Operating Skilled Nursing Among CCRCs

Skilled nursing assets at continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) have long been subject to downsizing for a variety of reasons, including operational challenges, the cost to care for skilled patients and regulatory hurdles. Add to this list: the severity of the nursing home survey process. Stu Almer, CEO of Gurwin Healthcare System in New York, […]