Lionstone Care, which has nearly doubled its footprint by adding 25 facilities since 2023, has grown through HUD financing and strategic acquisitions, taking on both distressed properties ripe for turnaround as well as high-performing facilities. In addition to expanding its footprint, the Cleveland-based provider also added an in-house therapy company. Ezzie Goldish, Lionstone’s former CFO, […]
Category: Technology
While AI adoption is emerging as the more immediate priority for nursing home providers, workforce challenges are expected to persist over the long term, according to providers surveyed about the sector outlook. Nursing home providers said in a survey conducted by Skilled Nursing News in late August ahead of the RETHINK conference that the biggest […]
The nursing home sector is expected to get a lot more competitive in the years to come. As hospitality gets baked into every service line, AI use and strong interdisciplinary teams will be defining features of high-performing operators. But some existing headwinds will persist, including Medicare Advantage, Trilogy Health Services COO Todd Mehaffey told Skilled […]
Nursing homes are increasingly leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline referral processing and case management, with the ability to reduce hospital packets to concise summaries in under a minute and cutting referral review times in half. Payer-provider relationships are expected to evolve as a result, with tech-supported documentation and care planning inspiring payer trust in […]
Provider networks can be powerful tools for improving negotiating leverage with managed care organizations while also benefiting care coordination. But their effectiveness depends on local market conditions and the structure of the network, as well as a chosen reimbursement structure that makes sense for the market population. Meanwhile, nursing home operators in the middle of […]
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is adding electronic prior authorization to the Health Tech Ecosystem, bringing electronic health record (EHR) vendors, health systems, hospitals, physician practices and digital health developers to the table with payers. The idea is to make a unified coalition aligned around making electronic prior authorization work end-to-end on […]
Nursing home operators are adopting a healthy mix of technological investment and structured processes, always with a goal of improving quality outcomes and empowering leadership. But, determining where and how much to invest in a given technology can be tricky. While some operators have invested in tech tools to aid M&A decision making, others are […]
Nursing home audit success depends on proactive habits. Providers who regularly review their own documentation, stay informed about Medicare policies and audit trends and make sure each patient encounter is clearly documented and individualized are on the right track. And the devil’s in the details. The smallest of gaps, or easy fixes, can trigger audits, […]
For nursing homes in rural America, telehealth has been battle-tested. It has shifted from a convenience to a necessity, as limited provider availability and transportation barriers make it difficult for residents to access necessary care in person. Not only does the platform allow virtual reach into health care deserts, but it has also been a […]
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 […]
As nursing home operators seek wraparound services to help with staff burnout, turnover and retention, leaders in the sector say it’s unwise to overlook the use of robotics, while others consider it to be too big of a technological leap. Robotics that help with cleaning, dietary and menu selection in particular seem to be more […]
Skilled Nursing Outlook 2026: Nearly 40% of SNF Leaders Plan Acquisitions, With PE Seen as Top Buyer
The nursing home industry may see more of a buyer’s market in 2026, with expectations for private equity to be a primary source of financing and the largest buyer of skilled nursing assets. But despite transaction optimism, staffing remains the dominant challenge this year with recruitment, retention, labor costs and inflation topping operator concerns. Most […]
There’s been a resurgence in legislation on electronic monitoring devices in nursing homes, with 17 states actively figuring out the right balance between privacy for residents and their safety amid continued workforce pressures. One thing is clear between operators and state associations: such laws must put resident choice and autonomy first. Legal expert Bradley Arant […]
The nursing home sector in 2026 will be defined by rapid change, leaders said, as payment constraints, workforce shortages and rising expectations from the public and government entities converge. All the while, operators brace for Medicaid uncertainty and Medicare Advantage growth. Shortened retroactive eligibility periods and potential state-level cuts to Medicaid programs may further contribute […]
When it comes to dining and environmental services, skilled nursing leaders believe that technology can help their organizations achieve some key goals. However, 54% of respondents to a recent Skilled Nursing News survey said they have no major changes planned when it comes to service strategy over the next one to two years. That was […]
Hospital to skilled nursing facility referral patterns are normalizing and admission numbers are recovering. That’s according to a newly released report from WellSky, which also found that nursing homes have had to navigate fragmented care transitions more than ever, as real-time coordination continues to be a challenge despite digital advancements. A lot of providers still […]
Gary Blake regrets that Creative Solutions in Healthcare did not bring on more nurse practitioners sooner, saying the decision has been a turning point for the skilled nursing provider. “I’m not too proud to say I stand corrected on the use of nurse practitioners,” he said. “I actually can’t say enough great things about them […]
Adoption of artificial intelligence tools in health care lags other industries; within health care, nursing and residential care is even further behind. This is a finding of an analysis recently published in JAMA Health Forum. The study compared AI use in health care to other sectors from 2023 to 2025. The authors examined the U.S. […]
Skilled nursing leaders are renewing calls to eliminate the three-day stay rule in light of a policy change that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized last week. Specifically, CMS is moving ahead with plans to phase out the inpatient-only (IPO) list, which details the procedures that Medicare covers only if the beneficiary […]
Telehealth use among residents in nursing homes remains relatively low compared to older adults living in other settings, indicating an underused opportunity. Variations in technology infrastructure, staffing capacity, and resident autonomy are likely factors contributing to less use in the sector. Expanding telehealth in nursing homes, as well as seniors housing and assisted living, could […]
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