With many of the upcoming nursing home survey changes being tied to care transitions to home, hospitals or other settings, operators say the link between clinical teams and these transitions is more important than ever. However, even though worker shortages have complicated transitions, operators haven’t given up on finding workarounds. So, how do operators square […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has delayed nursing home survey changes for another month, with implementation now to begin April 28 rather than March 24. Associations and providers alike are glad they’re being given more time to prepare, educate and test procedures. CMS said the delay “allows ample time” for both surveyors […]
As technology platforms flood the nursing home market, operators are having a hard time tuning out the noise to focus on what will actually move the needle when it comes to quality care and workforce efficiency. No one seems to have cracked the code yet when it comes to using AI, robotics, and other tech […]
Transitions in nursing home care will be heavily impacted by upcoming surveyor guidance, but operators can prepare by being realistic about admissions, while also cleaning up any gaps in the discharge process. At the same time, robust documentation around psychotropic medications will be a boon for operators facing updated guidance. Much of the surveyor guidance […]
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 […]
Challenges stemming from gaps in medical data along the health care continuum and a lack of seamless sharing of crucial information between nursing homes and other entities have grave consequences, especially given the more serious patient acuity levels being discharged to post-acute care facilities. And yet, this is an issue that has failed to garner […]
In an era when surveys – and delay in surveys – have been the cause for much stress among nursing home operators, a sometimes undervalued and overlooked strategy to minimize survey risk involves operators developing strong relationships with their state survey agencies. That’s certainly an easier task compared to getting approval from national agencies like […]
As regulatory, operational and legal risks abound for nursing home operators, strong relationships with commercial insurance carriers and brokers continue to be key in countering costs. Operators facing higher insurance premiums and greater administrative burdens have turned to using strong commercial insurance risk management companies as well as data-driven solutions that factor in the new […]
Amid plans to launch the largest provider-owned institutional special needs plan (I-SNP) in the U.S., Brickyard Healthcare is also making sure it surpasses certain other challenges facing the sector. Along with this endeavor, eliminating agency use, preparing for managed Medicaid in Indiana, and being ready to face the staffing mandate, have all been top of […]
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 […]
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