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 […]

Former American Senior Communities CEO, Guilty of Fraud, Granted Clemency By Biden

Nursing home operator American Senior Communities’ former CEO James Burkhart was among nearly 1,500 people whose sentences were commuted as part of the largest single-day act of clemency in modern history by President Joe Biden, who also issued 39 pardons on the same day. Burkhart led a $19.4 million fraud scheme involving nursing homes owned […]

Transition to Managed Medicaid Causing Chain Reaction of Challenges, as Nursing Homes Also Contend With Redetermination

Multiple states have been working toward a transition to managed Medicaid from the traditional state-run program, but there have been concerns about reimbursement timing and insufficient payment amounts due to the change. And that’s just the first layer of challenges. Payment portals unique to each managed Medicaid contractor is another hurdle to overcome, in addition […]

American Senior Communities CEO Talks I-SNP JV, Benefits and Drawbacks of Concentrated Scale

Coming off of his first year as CEO of American Senior Communities Steve Van Camp is busy planning an Institutional Special Needs Plan (I-SNP) joint venture with five other providers in Indiana, while also devoting time and resources to meeting quality measures and outcomes among ASC facilities.  Important considerations to forge ahead with these efforts […]

New Nursing Home Operator Journey Adds 4 Properties, Names COO and Chief Nursing Officer

Recently established Journey Healthcare, led by industry veteran and former CEO of Majestic Care Bernie McGuinness, announced the acquisition of four skilled nursing facilities, representing a significant milestone in the company’s growth. Three of the properties are located in West Virginia, and the fourth is in Maryland, bringing Journey’s footprint to 11 communities across four […]

Inside the Balancing Act of Personal Technology Use Among Nursing Home Staff

Managing personal technology devices is a common concern among staff at businesses across the nation, and nursing homes are no exception. While policies for personal technology use at nursing home organizations run the gamut – from completely restricting cell phone use to limited use to even encouraging use among employees – nursing homes have had […]

Broken Alignment Between Physicians, Nursing Homes Must Improve for Value-Based Care Era

The way physicians and nursing home organizations work together must improve, especially with value-based care continuing to grow in prominence among all care settings. More specifically, C-suite executives, nursing staff and other leaders – from both the physician group side and nursing home operator end – must have a close partnership and aligned business strategies […]

Nursing Home Providers Face Long Road to Rebuild ‘Trust Equity’ Among Staff, Leaders, Agencies

Nursing home staff’s trust in their leaders and federal health care agencies eroded during the worst of the pandemic – and the rebuild will be slow going. Industry executives and advocacy leaders, who said that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have been unable […]

Nursing Home Leaders Support House Bill To Defeat CMS’ ‘Cookie-Cutter’ Minimum Staffing Proposal

A Congressional bill that aims to defeat the Biden Administration’s minimum staffing proposal began making rounds last week, and nursing home executives, including clinical team members attending the industry’s largest annual gathering in Denver, hailed it as a welcome development. If passed, the bill could keep the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) from […]

‘Road to Recovery’: ASC’s New CEO Steve Van Camp on Occupancy, Workforce, Diversification

American Senior Communities’ incoming CEO, Steve Van Camp, plans to focus on the road to recovery from Covid in restoring occupancy levels while advancing workforce initiatives. In an exclusive interview with Skilled Nursing News, Van Camp also shared his worries about resolving the staffing crisis amid sector-wide concerns related to the forthcoming proposal on minimum […]

American Senior Communities Announces Steve Van Camp as New CEO

American Senior Communities announced Thursday that Steve Van Camp will become its new CEO effective June 1. Van Camp will replace Donna Kelsey, who is expected to remain with the company as a senior advisor, ASC said in a press release. “I am confident in Steve’s ability to keep delivering quality care as the top […]

American Senior Communities Taps Sava Alum as COO, Makes Other Leadership Changes

American Senior Communities announced Andrew Shane as its new COO Friday, amid several changes to leadership this week. “As health care, and in particular, senior care continues to evolve and change, we are committed to bringing new innovations to our care programs, enhancing the quality of life for our residents and employees,” Donna Kelsey, CEO […]

The Hot Seat: Donna Kelsey, CEO, American Senior Communities

As CEO of American Senior Communities, with its portfolio of more than 100 Indiana-based senior care properties, Donna Kelsey applies her years of experience leading health care companies, including previous roles with Revera and Kindred Healthcare. Her leadership experience also spans service as a Captain for the U.S. Naval Reserves. Kelsey takes the Hot Seat […]

Why a Nursing Home Case Heard by SCOTUS Could Have Sweeping Implications 

Larger implications surrounding a nursing home case to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court on Nov. 8 has both operators and civil rights activists anxiously awaiting a decision. For SNF operators, the case could determine whether state-owned nursing homes are shielded from federal lawsuits. Far-reaching questions regarding Medicaid beneficiaries and their rights in federal […]

Ensign On Track to Overtake Genesis As Largest Nursing Home Operator

The Ensign Group (Nasdaq: ENSG) is poised to overtake Genesis HealthCare as the largest nursing home operator in the country as it continues to build upon its rapidly growing portfolio, according to ownership data released last week by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Ensign could be the largest skilled nursing provider in […]

As Nursing Home SCOTUS Case Looms, Flood of Briefs Support Plaintiff

A case to determine if state-owned nursing homes are shielded from federal lawsuits – to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court in November – received more than 20 amicus briefs last week. The flood of briefs filed in September are in support of Ivanka Talevski, wife of former nursing home resident Gorgi Talevski, suing […]

American Senior Communities CEO Seeks Stability Amid Enduring Nursing Home Operating Perils

Donna Kelsey considers herself an optimistic realist. As the head of American Senior Communities (ASC), Kelsey remains hopeful about the opportunity to boost census across the company’s 102 facilities. She also recognizes the realities of continuing to operate in a pandemic where federal and state regulations for nursing homes remain tight as the rest of […]