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 […]
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, […]
The nursing home industry has been on a wild ride this past year, with major regulation up in the air and a flip in the White House leaving operators unsure of whether they should applaud or brace for impact. Rhetoric surrounding the federal minimum staffing mandate has changed drastically throughout the year, with leaders condemning […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Building the frontline workforce continues to be crucial for the nursing home sector as the industry faces a federal minimum staffing mandate. However, barriers exist in the form of civil monetary penalties (CMPs), which can pause in-house training programs if a facility is cited, and existing staff is stretched so thin that educational demands just […]
A resolution to the lawsuit challenging the nursing home federal minimum staffing mandate could be reached as early as January, if the court finalizes a proposed schedule put forth by the American Health Care Association (AHCA), LeadingAge and other industry leaders. If this turns out to be the case, the lawsuit would be resolved more […]
CareTrust REIT (NYSE: CTRE) has been busy with its investment pipeline this week, announcing $378 million in new investments after June 30, and on top of $268 million in investments during the second quarter. Chief Investment Officer James Callister said competition for skilled nursing acquisitions is high as oncoming improvement and post-COVID performance has resulted […]
While hopeful that the Supreme Court’s recent Chevron decision will undermine the federal staffing mandate and lead to a more rational regulatory environment, leaders in the nursing home sector also are warning that the ruling could create a period of uncertainty and tumult. Steve LaForte, director of corporate affairs and general counsel for Idaho-based Cascadia […]
The nursing home industry is caught between a growing demand for services and evolution of the delivery model, all while policymakers and the wider community cling to an outdated version of the sector. This has made lobbying for the industry a tricky endeavor, and yet, it also offers a unique – even urgent – opportunity […]
Deal opportunities continue to be abundant for the Ensign Group (Nasdaq: ENSG), and leaders for the nursing home giant also are more confident that the federal nursing home staffing mandate is doomed. While announcing strong quarterly results and increased guidance, Ensign executives stated that the typical seasonal trends of depressed summertime occupancy and skilled mix […]
Following President Joe Biden’s decision to drop out of the 2024 presidential race, leaders in the nursing home space say there likely won’t be any change to the federal minimum staffing mandate or lawsuit given an ongoing strong connection with unions. Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to run in his place. On Monday, Harris […]
