Potential changes to the nursing home survey process being mulled over by federal authorities – and aimed at standardization across states – have many operators feeling optimistic for the years ahead, especially given that regional differences in implementation can lead to extra administrative burdens and survey backlogs. Toward the end of 2023, the Centers for […]
The landscape at skilled nursing facilities is evolving rapidly, influenced by factors such as changing regulations, workforce challenges, and the rise of Medicare Advantage, and the minimum staffing proposal only complicates matters. This view was expressed by industry leaders in the opening session of the Skilled Nursing News’ RETHINK conference Wednesday. Panelists – Wesley Rogers, […]
While nearly 21% of nursing homes across the country have developed nurse aide training programs to combat workforce shortages, civil monetary policy rules have severely hindered efforts to rebuild the workforce. Such training programs are revoked for two years, or cannot be initiated, if a SNF has been issued a CMP in excess of $11,995, […]
Some nursing homes are seeing “significantly more” audits tied to managed care and dual plan Medicaid claims in certain states – and potentially could see the same from Medicare too. This is all on top of an improper payment probe the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is conducting for Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) […]
Nursing home operators are seeing government oversight surveyors collaborate at the state and federal level to issue more citations at a time when the nursing home industry is already grappling with a very tight regulatory environment. The survey process is fraught with problems – including lacking standardization – resulting in unnecessary citations and distractions, according […]
Nursing home operators had a mixed reaction to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final payment rule for 2024. While some operators said that they were generally appreciative of the 4% increase in Medicare reimbursement, they are also calling for more help and understanding from federal agencies in tackling the workforce crisis – […]
Use of artificial intelligence (AI) has been steadily increasing at nursing homes, as the technology begins to deliver on its promises to improve efficiencies in a wide variety of areas, from clinical outcomes to back-office work. And while ChatGPT is the attention-grabber these days, natural language processing is but one of the ways AI is […]
As the Skilled Nursing News’ CLINICAL event in Washington D.C. came to a close last month, industry experts left with staffing concerns amid labor shortages and pending legislation on minimum staffing standards. However, operators also shared optimism over their innovations in corporate and clinical practices as they continued to confront higher acuity and tighter regulation. […]
Nursing home operators that were able to diversify their businesses and adjust to the patient-driven payment model (PDPM) while battling through Covid-19 now find themselves in a position of strength. This was one message that top operator executives delivered last week at Skilled Nursing News’ CLINICAL conference in Washington, D.C. They discussed how Covid-era practices […]
Research suggests that collaboration between various departments leads to better health outcomes at nursing homes, but that has been a difficult principle to follow, often because of time and regulatory constraints placed on staff already stretched thin. However, team-based care is the name of the game and sticking to it is important for the future […]
The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society, one of the largest skilled nursing providers in the United States, plans to consolidate its operations from 22 states to seven. Once the process is complete, the Sioux Falls, South Dakota-based Good Samaritan Society will have operations in South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado. About […]
Economic uncertainty, staffing shortages, looming federal regulations, a new COVID variant and major changes to the Minimum Data Set (MDS) are just a few of the challenges facing the skilled nursing sector at the dawn of 2023. But a new year is also a time for optimism. Favorable Medicaid policies, the growth of strong regional […]
After divesting of its sizable portfolio over the course of several years, SavaSeniorCare will cease to exist as a company once its last five nursing homes transition to other operators, which the company expects to occur by the end of January 2023. The end of Atlanta-based Sava marks another sea change in the skilled nursing […]
As nursing home staff continue to see a higher concentration of high acuity patients, advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) may be the key to improving care outcomes and reducing hospital readmissions. University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing Assistant Professor Alisha Johnson spent a year interviewing APRNs in Texas about their transition to the nursing […]
The top quotes of 2022 memorably captured some of the biggest skilled nursing issues of the year, from “shocking” payment policies to “colossal” regulatory issues to “transformative” changes. The quotes below not only serve as reminders about what transpired over the last 12 months, but touch on many issues that are still pressing as 2023 […]
Nursing home operators are changing their approach to staffing and recruitment to be more proactive and flexible, helping address severe staffing shortages being felt across the sector. The pandemic forced Dwyer Workforce Development (DWD) to be more creative about attracting a pipeline of talented folks who might not have been their typical candidates in the […]
Skilled nursing operators should anticipate further distress in the coming months and into 2023, which will likely result in even greater divides among providers. The winners and losers already are being sorted, as the latest round of real estate investment trust (REIT) earnings made clear. And unsurprisingly, strong regional operators are leading the pack. Welltower […]
Nursing home operators were able to tell the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) directly how much certain waivers helped their organizations during the pandemic, with the temporary nurse aide (TNA) and three-day stay waivers being the most beneficial. SNF industry leaders also made their case for extending waivers or making some permanent during […]
Current immigration policies are creating unnecessary roadblocks that hinder the recovery and potential growth of the nursing home industry’s workforce by “leaps and bounds.” And the situation has only become increasingly more dire as the sector faces a labor shortage at levels not seen in the last three decades. The ability to bring over international […]
As operating costs remain high and staffing shortages persist, nursing homes across the country, particularly those situated in small markets, are closing their doors in response. Staff, as a result, are then left with the decision to relocate to another facility perhaps many miles away, or leave the industry altogether. Seven nursing homes in the […]
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