Now that the Senate’s compromise spending plan has become law, skilled nursing providers must figure out how to make do with fewer Medicare dollars over the next 10 years. The decline comes from a freeze in the Medicare market basket rate, which the new budget has set at 2.4% in fiscal 2019. The industry had […]
On first glance, the Department of Health and Human Services’ new guidance on personal religious beliefs might not appear to affect the long-term care industry. Years from now, however, it could play an integral role in the way SNFs operate and staff facilities. When the government rolled out its two-pronged approach last week — establishing […]
The long-term care industry dodged a bullet this week with a short government shutdown, but the fate of a federal budget still hinges on Congress reaching consensus over immigration — another issue that could have an outsized impact on the skilled nursing space. Should Congressional Republicans attempt to clamp down on legal immigration and the so-called […]
With a staffing crisis looming over the senior care sector, industry surveys and news reports routinely trumpet the steep challenges in skilled nursing facility recruitment and retention. Success stories are harder to come by, but they are out there, providing examples of how SNFs can successfully attract top talent and develop the next generation of […]
Congressional Republicans on Wednesday passed their long-planned tax reform package, and while President Trump has classified the deal as a Christmas gift to American taxpayers, the effects for skilled nursing operators and investors remains less than clear-cut. For instance, non-profit developers of continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) received mixed holiday blessings: The compromise tax bill saving […]
My job involves combing through Google Alerts in search of the latest filings and nuggets of news about the skilled nursing industry. Most are false positives — especially during the autumn, when my alert for “SNF” returns more information about the coming week’s Sunday Night Football matchup than skilled nursing facilities. But ever since I […]
As Congressional Republicans attempt to pass their new tax plan before the holiday recess in December, one major group in the long-term care industry says the legislation would harm residents and providers. LeadingAge — a trade group that represents non-profit nursing homes and other elder-care providers — spoke out against H.R. 1, claiming that House […]
Earlier this week, a U.S. representative announced a plan that would bring a Florida-specific emergency preparedness rule to all 50 states. And while providers in the state had expressed concerns over the regulations, national organizations say the rule could prove to be a boon for operators and residents alike. Under Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s proposed […]
Between the American Health Care Association’s annual conference and expo in Las Vegas and another update in the ongoing drama between a major provider and its landlord, it’s been a busy week in the world of skilled nursing. Check out our weekly roundup of must-reads to get you caught up: QCP Extends ManorCare Deadline Quality […]
Arbitration agreements between skilled nursing operators and residents have become a key battleground in the long-term care space, as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeks to roll back an Obama-era regulation that would have banned them. But the fight over arbitration clauses — which prevent parties from seeking legal remedies from disputes […]
Fresh off a battle that nearly saw wholesale changes to the Medicaid program, skilled nursing lobbyists say the work isn’t over — and that operators on the front lines can often be the most effective voices in reaching Washington. One of the primary reasons that Congress came so close to gutting Medicaid as part of […]
Congressional Republicans may have failed at several attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act and enact deep cuts to the Medicaid program, but at least one expert says long-term care providers shouldn’t breathe a sigh of relief just yet. “I don’t think the states feel like Medicaid is safe right now, and I don’t think […]
Under the new regulatory landscape, avoiding rehospitalizations is king — not just for the skilled nursing facility, but for the hospital and any home health providers that may provide care after discharge. But too often, SNFs focus on care within the facility only, and don’t take steps to manage the entire process from hospital to […]
Less than two-thirds of acute and long-term care providers have found that bundled payments both lower costs and improve care, according to a new survey, though the company behind the numbers says it’s a little more complicated than that. Archway Health, a Watertown, Mass.-based firm that advises health providers on bundled payment models, asked 70 […]
The skilled nursing industry cheered earlier this year when the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it would reverse course on a plan to ban arbitration agreements between SNF operators and residents. But as the public learns more about the issue, the backlash has been harsh — and national publications are taking […]
The demand for frontline caregivers is no secret in the skilled nursing industry, as many providers often report facing challenges in recruiting amidst the nation’s growing aging population—ultimately brewing a perfect storm of supply not meeting demand. In fact, by 2030, job openings in the long-term services and supports (LTSS) sector is slated to “grow substantially,” as […]
Activity directors and non-certified nurse aides enjoyed the largest pay raises — on a percentage basis — of all skilled nursing employees between 2016 and 2017, according to the latest data set from the Hospital & Healthcare Compensation Service. Among salaried employees, activity directors took the crown with a bump of 3.44%, or a rise […]
A bill recently reintroduced in the U.S. Senate aims to make skilled nursing services more readily available for veterans of the military. Sens. John Hoeven (R-ND) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) on July 20 reintroduced the Veterans Access to Long Term Care and Health Services Act (S. 1611). The legislation would allow the Department of Veterans Affairs to […]
Long-term care is getting a facelift in the Beaver State. Specifically, the Oregon state legislature recently passed House Bill 3359 (HB 3359), which is meant to improve the quality and safety of long-term care settings statewide. The bill, for instance, mandates that all administrators of residential care facilities, including assisted living and memory care communities, receive […]
Senate Republicans scuttled their most recent attempt to pass health care reform legislation after several members announced their opposition to the bill, putting proposed Obamacare replacement on hold — and prompting skilled nursing operators and advocates to breathe a temporary sigh of relief. “We appreciate the Senators that hit the pause button on this debate,” […]
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