The number of licensed nursing home beds and facilities has steadily declined in New York, reflecting a broader trend across the country. There have been 24 nursing home closures in the state since 2020, or a loss of more than 3,000 licensed beds, according to a report in the New York Times. As for operators […]
American Health Care Association
CMS finalized its 2027 Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (SNF PPS) rule, increasing rates by 2.4%, but nursing home leaders say the shortened clinical data reporting window will increase administrative burdens. The agency’s decision is based on the final SNF market basket of 3.3%, reduced by a 0.9% productivity adjustment for an estimated increase […]
Nursing home operators may be in for a rude awakening Wednesday, when an update to the 5-Star Quality Rating System, requiring more points for ratings, goes into effect. That’s because the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is increasing quality measure thresholds by one-half of the average improvement in QM scores. While thresholds to […]
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on Tuesday deferred more than $1 billion in federal Medicaid payments to California and Minnesota. The agencies plan to expand this deferment tool in the future. That’s approximately $867.5 million in deferred federal payments to California, and $199 million […]
As the Accountable Care Organization Realizing Equity, Access and Community Health (ACO REACH) model winds down this year, federal findings offer insights into the future of accountable care for medically complex beneficiaries – many of whom reside in a nursing home. ACO REACH reduced gross Medicare spending by $706 million overall, the American Health Care […]
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule this week jam-packed with reforms to the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), ACO participation and the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS). Overall, CMS proposed a 1.19% decrease in the PFS conversion factor for 2027, but providers unable to participate in PFS incentive programs, including […]
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 […]
Senate Democrats are seeking to improve access to affordable long-term care by using incentives to address workforce shortages, increasing nursing home quality and expanding home care services. The initiative was outlined in a letter signed by Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden and 16 other Senate Democrats. The budget reconciliation signed by President Donald […]
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on Thursday issued its Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (SNF PPS) proposed rule, increasing Medicare rates by 2.4%. The federal agency is also proposing to remove two measures from the SNF Quality Reporting Program (QRP). The 2.4% increase is based on the proposed SNF market basket […]
As the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) strives to improve and expand accountable care organization (ACO) models for the future, there’s a prime opportunity to better serve long-term care populations, including residents in nursing homes. For starters, the federal agency should consider simplifying the bureaucratic hurdles that keep more skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) […]
Some nursing home leaders are approaching mergers and acquisitions (M&A) with caution in 2026, citing inflated asset prices and questioning whether current valuations justify the investment. Meanwhile, their broader investment strategies focus instead on the evolving value-based care environment. One of the reasons for treading carefully in buying new assets stems from nursing home industry’s […]
Nursing homes made noticeable workforce gains in 2025, with 40,700 jobs added, or an increase of 3,400 workers each month, while also continuing to reduce staff turnover and reliance on temporary agency workers, according to a report published by the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL). About 62% of providers […]
Nursing home leaders pushed – with donations to the Trump campaign – to have the federal nursing home staffing mandate repealed permanently, arguing the rule would raise costs and force facilities to close. According to a report in the New York Times, about 40 corporate entities associated with nursing homes across the country donated nearly […]
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 […]
The skilled nursing sector experienced a turbulent and transformative 2025, shaped by sweeping deregulation efforts, intensifying financial and policy pressures as well as volatile reimbursement dynamics. Meanwhile, rising M&A activity and renewed scrutiny of private equity ownership dominated markets and financial chatter. At the beginning of the year, the Trump administration’s approach to deregulation was […]
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is set to indefinitely suspend its mandatory off-cycle skilled nursing facility provider enrollment validation, which had a deadline of Jan. 1, 2026. Associations including the American Health Care Association and National Centers for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) have long asked for relief from the revalidation process, given the […]
The federal government shutdown that began on Oct. 1 is likely to cause minimal disruption to nursing home operations, but surveyors will be adhering to contingency plans and providers are concerned about reduced telehealth access. “Seniors, their loved ones, and their caregivers can rest easy that their long term and postacute care will be minimally […]
Physiatry is becoming a cornerstone of skilled nursing care in the midst of a push toward value-based reimbursement in Medicare and Medicaid. Its integration into care teams has helped improve outcomes while reducing costly hospitalizations, industry leaders said. The rise of patient acuity has been a huge driver in the evolution of physiatry in nursing […]
Proposed Medicaid cuts are spurring widespread concern among nursing home providers, as reductions would severely impact care quality, staffing, and facility operations. Activity on the Hill and a new report puts the spotlight on potential impact to stakeholders. About 92% of providers are concerned about further Medicaid cuts, according to a May report from the […]
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