Nearly 700 nursing home provider representatives will be urging federal lawmakers to take action on Medicare Advantage reform and other top policy priorities for the sector. The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) kicks off its Congressional Briefing event on Monday. The most important endeavor for members is to share […]
The American Nurses Association and a group of other organizations have jointly filed suit against the Department of Education over its final rule excluding nursing from the “professional degree” designation. The American Nurses Association (ANA) and nine other nursing organizations filed the suit in response to a policy, starting July 1, excludes post-baccalaureate nursing degree […]
Nursing home operators are embracing workforce development initiatives to attract, retain and improve the skills of workers from inside and outside the industry. Leadership turnover is one of long-term care’s most damaging problems, and a big focus for operators such as Cascadia Healthcare. Other companies, such as Journey Skilled Nursing and Genesis HealthCare,use competitions with […]
Skilled nursing occupancy gains are slowing but still continuing in 2026 as development stays near record lows and investors put dollars into Sun Belt markets with demographic growth and net migration. That’s according to a report Marcus & Millichap released last week. The report’s authors cited NIC MAP data showing the skilled nursing sector added […]
The skilled nursing administrator position is ever evolving as a bridge between corporate leaders and frontline staff. These leaders often are assuming the role of data translator and CEOs of their buildings as more operators embrace decentralized business models. Having a sense of ownership over a building and what goes on inside of it makes […]
American Senior Communities (ASC) is coming off a strong 2025 focused on quality care and is building on that success to weather industry challenges while executing on key initiatives, including the growth of a provider-led institutional special needs plan (I-SNP). ASC has 114 properties in Indiana, 94 of which are focused on skilled nursing. The […]
The medical director can make or break a nursing home’s path to quality care, and it’s a role that has drastically evolved over the last decade to bridge the gap between state survey agencies, staff and residents, while serving as the go-to resource for understanding enforcement cycles. In worst-case scenarios, medical directors serve as key […]
Certification for various nursing home roles has shown to have a positive effect across the sector, with benefits ranging from higher star ratings to an improvement in recruitment and retention. However, it is also an initiative that is often underutilized, leaders say. Majestic Care, for one, partnered with the American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing […]
The fight over the federal nursing home staffing mandate isn’t over yet – it might be entering its next phase, according to Jonathan Blum, former COO and principal deputy administrator at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), who said the idea of having such requirements is certainly still circulating among federal officials. While […]
A new survey points to a growing gap between job satisfaction and workplace challenges among nurses working in skilled nursing facilities, with certain types of documentation topping the list of burdens and workplace culture and relationships – especially with supervisors – as possible solutions. Based on responses from nearly 500 nurses in skilled nursing facilities […]
Immigrant workers are the backbone of daily care at nursing homes, and recent policy changes, including exorbitant visa fees, have created new barriers that are unrealistic for providers already working on razor thin margins and have disrupted workflows. Moreover, the primary pathway used for registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and other direct care […]
Maintaining quality of care with slim resources, while seeing patient acuity continue to rise, keeps nursing home clinicians up at night – and these challenges are compounded by insurance pressures, particularly from Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. Varion Walton, VP of clinical services at Texas-based Methodist Retirement Communities (MRC), discussed the daily frustrations borne from managed […]
As staffing conditions stabilize, skilled nursing leaders are shifting focus toward retention, and placing culture, communication and career development at the center of workforce strategies for 2026. Executives from Journey and Gurwin Healthcare System say keeping workers engaged now depends less on short-term incentives and more on long-term investment in people. For Laurel Lingle, vice […]
Rising patient complexity – including psychiatric conditions – and ‘supercharged’ financial pressures are pushing skilled nursing operators to focus on leadership development and easing clinical burdens with clever fixes. “SNFs have always been vulnerable to payment pressures but they are supercharged right now. From Medicaid challenges to the decline of private-pay residents and ongoing managed […]
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is set to roll out risk-based surveys on a more broad basis, with final criteria expected to be released in a matter of months. Inspectors still could flag targeted operators for a full survey, depending on what they find. That’s according to Evan Shulman, director of the […]
While unionization in nursing homes drastically changed staffing patterns in the sector, it didn’t measurably affect overall care quality. In reality, the union effect on care quality is more nuanced – unions don’t appear to harm care quality but they’re not improving it either, mostly due to cost-cutting responses from management. Following unionization, nursing homes […]
Nursing home operators, as always, are juggling many moving parts to stay ahead, but some initiatives are taking precedence this year – particularly stabilizing the workforce via career ladders, policy changes tied to Medicaid and managing technology. Executives are discussing policy and reimbursement hurdles, with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) spurring talks with […]
Larry H. Miller Senior Health is entering 2026 from a position of operational momentum having acquired a six-facility portfolio recently. However, COO Andy Frasure remains clear eyed about the growing challenges facing nursing home providers. The Kissito Healthcare portfolio’s acquisition and successful integration was his company’s biggest milestone in 2025, Frasure told Skilled Nursing News. […]
Coaching in nursing home education just got a makeover: When paired with Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) and leadership training focused on communication, deeply involved coaches were able to support staff to move the needle on quality in a pilot project overseen by the Moving Forward Coalition. The good news is that the model […]
Missouri lawmakers are considering legislation aimed at increasing accountability and transparency around resident abuse and neglect in nursing homes. The bill would increase penalties for such offenses and require facilities to carry at least $1 million in liability insurance. Republican State Senator Adam Schnelting, who sponsored the bill, said the measure would help families obtain […]
