‘Scarcity Premium’ Creating Competition in Nursing Home Market, But Congressional Budget Risks Still Loom

The current nursing home market has its share of positives and negatives midway through 2025, with operators enjoying Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement increases as well as a decline in facility supply, creating higher competition among buyers. Buyers are being more aggressive in the acquisition process, he said, with fewer facilities available. Brokerage firms are seeing […]

More Than 25% of Nursing Homes Slash Food Spending Below $10 a Day

Cost-cutting measures in nursing homes, particularly food budgets, have been a concerning underlying issue in the industry, with more than a quarter of facilities in the country spending under $10 per day on food per resident. An investigative report by NJ Advance Media, in collaboration with Rutgers University and data experts at SNFdata Resources of […]

‘A Cut Is a Cut Is a Cut’: AHCA’s Clif Porter on Medicaid Provider Tax Reduction’s Impact on Nursing Homes

Congress may cut Medicaid provider taxes for nursing homes as a part of budget reconciliation, significantly impacting the sector as many providers rely on this avenue of reimbursement for crucial services and resident resources. These taxes are a key funding tool: providers pay a fee, matched by federal dollars, to support state Medicaid programs. But […]

CMS Delay Of Survey Changes ‘A Gift’ That Skilled Nursing Providers Cannot Squander

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has delayed nursing home survey changes for another month, with implementation now to begin April 28 rather than March 24. Associations and providers alike are glad they’re being given more time to prepare, educate and test procedures. CMS said the delay “allows ample time” for both surveyors […]

DOGE Gains Access to CMS Systems and Tech as Nursing Home Associations Monitor Impact Closely

Just days ago officials with the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) were granted access to agency systems and technology at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), but it’s unclear how the department plans to use such findings, or what sort of impact it would have on nursing homes. Nursing home associations […]

‘A Bit Disarming’: CMS, Health Agencies Pause Communication Per Trump Orders, Raising Concerns at Nursing Homes

The newly installed Trump administration late Tuesday prompted federal health agencies, including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), to pause external communications through Feb. 1. That includes regular scientific reports, updates to websites and health advisories – communication that those in the nursing home industry regularly rely upon. Nursing home associations including the […]

Executive Outlook 2025: While MA ‘Tightens the Screws’ on Nursing Homes, Sector Focuses on Reform, Workforce Solutions, I-SNPs

While 2025 remains a bit uncertain due to the federal staffing mandate and a new White House administration, leaders in the nursing home industry plan to continue working toward improving quality of care, addressing workforce challenges and advocating for fair regulation and reimbursements. Clif Porter, president and CEO of the American Health Care Association/National Center […]

Final Argument in Staffing Rule Lawsuit Highlights Chevron Doctrine, But Appeals Could Drag On

The American Health Care Association, LeadingAge and other nursing home stakeholders involved in the lawsuit against the federal minimum staffing mandate filed their final argument against the rule late on Friday, asking a federal judge to deny the federal agency’s cross-motion for summary judgement. Given that a judgement is expected early in the new year, […]

OIG Guidance Has Nursing Home Corporate Compliance – And ‘Tunneling’ – in its Crosshairs

Federal agencies are honing in on ownership transparency and corporate-level compliance, most recently with the Office of Inspector General (OIG) citing concerns about certain practices that allow nursing homes to hide profits. OIG’s latest guidance focuses on the practice of “tunneling,” which refers to the misrepresentation or concealment of profitability in payments to related parties, […]

Last Gasp or Reckoning: Making Sense of 2025 Nursing Home Survey Changes

Surveyors will be evaluating for compliance in new ways, as a result of nursing home survey changes for 2025. While significant, these changes reflect federal initiatives that associations and operators have been seeing for some time now. Nursing home providers are parsing through recent, significant changes to the survey process and trying to grasp the […]

Even With Extension, Nursing Homes Concerned CMS Medicare Revalidation Will Be Burdensome, Confusing, Pull Resources Away from the Bedside

Uncertainty surrounding the information required for the new nursing home Medicare revalidation process has led to high levels of concern, particularly among for-profit operators, who view it as yet another punitive measure. Following letters from nursing home advocates about the rushed timing of the off-cycle revalidations, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has […]

Nursing Homes Cautiously Optimistic Post-Election, Reflecting on ‘Industry Friendly’ CMS Under Previous Trump Admin

Finance and operator voices alike are cautiously optimistic about prospects for the nursing home sector as the Trump administration prepares to enter the White House in January, alongside a Republican majority in the U.S. Senate that has historically been sympathetic to nursing home issues. When it comes to the federal minimum staffing mandate, Cascadia Healthcare’s […]

Post AHCA, Parkinson Joins Boards of Physiatry Group CRC, Nursing Home Giant Ensign

Former president and CEO of the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) Mark Parkinson will be joining Comprehensive Rehab Consultants’ (CRC) board of directors as of Nov. 4. There was a “powerful alignment” in goals and values between Parkinson and leadership for CRC when they first connected, the company said […]

‘Paperwork Over Patients’: AHCA Says Nursing Home Medicare Revalidation Is Rushed, Requests Flexibility

Skilled nursing facilities need reasonable flexibility and additional support to meet the latest federal mandate – an off-cycle revalidation process for Medicare – for which nursing home advocates are seeking an extension. The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) sent a letter on Wednesday to the U.S. Department of Health […]

Porter Officially Takes Over As AHCA/NCAL CEO This Week

Clifton J. Porter II kicked off his first day as president and CEO of the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living this week – the transition comes after Porter was tapped to take on the role in July. Former AHCA/NCAL leader Mark Parkinson led the organization for 14 years prior to […]

‘Existential Threat’: 21 States Sue CMS Over Nursing Home Staffing Mandate

The number of states challenging the federal minimum staffing mandate has now grown to 21 states, after 20 states filed a joint lawsuit. As of Tuesday, Iowa’s attorney general was the latest to sue the Biden-Harris administration, challenging the nursing home federal minimum staffing mandate along with Kansas, Virginia, South Carolina, and other mostly Republican-led […]

SCOTUS Decision Sets Stage for Nursing Homes to Challenge Civil Monetary Penalties but Such Litigation Is Likely Too Costly

The U.S. Supreme Court’s June decision regarding civil monetary penalties (CMPs), which allows defendants the right to present their case to a federal jury when a federal agency is seeking financial penalties, may seem like a win for nursing homes at first glance. However, many providers are unlikely to pursue this path. The CMP decision […]

CMS Files Lengthy Response to Lawsuit Against Nursing Home Staffing Mandate, As Cases Against Rule Get Consolidated

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on Friday filed a 75,000-page administrative record for its defense of the nursing home staffing mandate. It’s the first movement from CMS since the American Health Care Association (AHCA) filed a lawsuit challenging the mandate in May. The 75,000 pages were shared via a file-sharing device between […]