‘Operating Pressures Are Very Intense’: Ohio Living CEO on Skilled Nursing Strategy and Mega-Trends

Operational pressures continue to shape the landscape of the skilled nursing sector as many organizations with assets across the care continuum are divesting nursing homes in favor of other service lines. Responding to pressures from staffing and low reimbursements, Ohio Living decided to act “proactively” and downsize its skilling nursing segment while growing its services […]

Building off Its Annual Nursing Home List, Newsweek Unveils CCRC Rankings

As patient preference continues to shift away from nursing homes, public attention is increasingly on alternate modes of skilled nursing care as well, including continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs). Newsweek, for one, came out with a ranking of such communities in partnership with global market and consumer data firm Statista. The companies expect rankings to […]

Legislation to Block CMS’ Nursing Home Staffing Mandate Gaining Steam Among Senators

Companion legislation to block the nursing home minimum staffing proposal is due to be introduced next week by Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) – more co-sponsors are anticipated, delaying the bill’s introduction to some time next week. That’s according to Sen. Fischer’s office. It’s a good delay to have, a spokesperson said in an email to […]

How Medicaid Waivers Have Affected Nursing Home Utilization – And Why the Staffing Proposal May Further This Trend

One of the unintended consequences of the minimum staffing proposal may mean less utilization of nursing homes as residents are shifted to other means of care – a trend spurred by an expanded use of Medicaid waivers. Policymakers may opt for these as a safety net for access issues among seniors, especially in rural settings, […]

Ignite CEO Focuses on Solutions, Growth Amid ‘Punitive, Vindictive’ Surveys, Managed Care Pressures

From managed care burdens and “punitive, vindictive surveys,” to threats posed by the potential federal staffing mandate and issues stemming from the “radically broken” Five Star rating system, Ignite Medical Resorts CEO Tim Fields is well aware of the many challenges facing skilled nursing providers. But as Ignite celebrates its fifth year as a company […]

Altarum: Funding, Staffing Level Fluctuations During Pandemic Should Be Part of Proposed Mandate

Covid era changes to census and staffing – as well as closures of nursing homes – should be more closely considered in assessing the right level of staffing being proposed by federal agencies, while a focus on funding can improve the chances of fulfilling the increased requirements. That’s the analysis of a report released by […]

U.S. News Ranking Exposes Critical Staffing Shortages at Nursing Homes, With Only 5% Meeting CMS Proposal’s Requirements

The U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 Best Nursing Homes ratings released Tuesday reveals that only fewer than 5% of nursing homes across the country will meet both the current federal staffing requirements and the newly proposed standards by the Biden administration. The report comes on the heels of the end of the comment period […]

‘Deeply Flawed’: LPNs Speak Out On Their Exclusion from Nursing Home Staffing Proposal

As advocacy efforts to oppose the federal government’s proposed staffing mandate continue, the National Association for Licensed Practical Nurses (NALPN) is lending its voice towards the withdrawal of the mandate by sharing a joint letter it sent to the federal agency. The role of licensed practical nurses (LPNs) has been chopped off from the proposal, […]

Majority of Nursing Home Workers Behind on Flu, Covid Vaccinations

With the country well into flu season, the majority of nursing home workers remain unvaccinated for the flu as well as Covid-19. Fewer than one in every four health care workers received up-to-date Covid vaccines, and less than half have gotten the latest flu shot, according to 2023 data collected by the Centers for Disease […]

Hope Isn’t a Strategy: Inside the Fight for Survival of One Rural Nursing Home

Earlier this year, the Boundary Waters Care Center was in danger of closing. Through a concerted push for funds, the center raised $60,000 in community donations and is still operating — but Executive Director Adam Masloski is fighting every day to overcome operational and financial challenges, and he is deeply concerned about the potential devastating […]

Bright Spots and Overhangs: NHI Execs Weigh in on Occupancy Gains, Cost of Capital, Nursing Home Staffing Mandate

Cost of capital, occupancy recovery across all assets and the minimum staffing proposal were top of mind for National Health Investors Inc. (NYSE: NHI) during its third quarter earnings call on Wednesday. NHI CEO Eric Mendelsohn said there was a bit of a fakeout in terms of occupancy recovery last December, with operators saying there […]

CMS Flooded With Staggering 40K-Plus Comments on Nursing Home Staffing Mandate

More than two months after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced its minimum staffing proposal for the skilled nursing industry, commentary from stakeholders came to a close Monday with a staggering 40,000-plus comments received. Reviewing the hefty load of comments on the proposal may take as long as a year, according to […]

Nursing Home Construction Dwindles As Operators Downsize – But a Lack of Medicaid Beds is Most Concerning

As nursing home operators continue to decry staffing shortages as a contributor to access issues for residents, new construction of facilities to meet demand appear to be lagging as well. New construction has become especially difficult for operators trying to add Medicaid beds for low income residents, given notoriously low reimbursement rates – which are […]

Moving Forward Coalition Members Discuss Nursing Home Staffing Issues, Action Plans

As the comment period for the federal government’s staffing proposal winds down, advocates for both nursing homes and residents alike are looking at ways to reach a middle ground. Among these advocates for measured change are members of the Moving Forward Coalition – an organization formed in April 2022 following the National Academies of Sciences, […]

Principle LTC CEO: All-Hands-On-Deck Staffing Approach Paid Off, Leadership Team Development a Top Priority

As Principle LTC maintains a focus on staff retention and recruitment, the company is developing new programs to ensure staff have meaningful relationships to their roles. Lynn Hood, CEO of Principle LTC, which manages 45 facilities across North Carolina, Kentucky and Virginia, said that over her lengthy career in health care, she has learned that […]

Family, Dementia Specialists Have Significant Sway on SNF Medication Management – But Are Rarely Involved

While families of nursing home residents and dementia specialists have significant influence on antidementia medication decisions, many residents lack their involvement. Such influence is similar to family sway on care planning for antipsychotic medications among nursing home residents. One in six nursing home cases almost always have no immediate family or caregivers involvement, according to […]

AHA: Nursing Home Staffing Mandate Would Not Align with Modern Clinical Practice, Stifle Innovation

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) should not implement the proposed nursing home staffing mandate for numerous reasons, including that “numerical staffing staffing thresholds are not consistent with the modern clinical practice.” That’s according to the American Hospital Association (AHA), which commented on the proposed mandate on behalf of its nearly 5,000 member […]