Right-sizing is crucial and tricky for nursing home operators, as demographics are driving demand but also contributing to labor shortages. Ultimately, providers must weigh several factors in order to create businesses that are successful today and sustainable for the future. “It’s about the right service offerings, which sometimes means shrinking your physical footprint and asking, […]
Health care cyber attacks have been an ever-present threat for providers, including nursing homes. But the most recent attacks on Change Healthcare have had ripple effects on the industry, prompting lobbying groups and federal agencies to action. The attack in February has affected cash flow and claims processes for some nursing home operators, associations said, […]
As patient preference continues to shift away from nursing homes, public attention is increasingly on alternate modes of skilled nursing care as well, including continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs). Newsweek, for one, came out with a ranking of such communities in partnership with global market and consumer data firm Statista. The companies expect rankings to […]
One of the unintended consequences of the minimum staffing proposal may mean less utilization of nursing homes as residents are shifted to other means of care – a trend spurred by an expanded use of Medicaid waivers. Policymakers may opt for these as a safety net for access issues among seniors, especially in rural settings, […]
As nursing home operators continue to decry staffing shortages as a contributor to access issues for residents, new construction of facilities to meet demand appear to be lagging as well. New construction has become especially difficult for operators trying to add Medicaid beds for low income residents, given notoriously low reimbursement rates – which are […]
For health care providers during COVID, policy changes and federal relief money have been a critical lifeline. And while many new complex rules and requirements have created significant uncertainty and concern about repayment and eligibility connected to such funding, skilled care agencies still have opportunities to avail it. Provider Relief Funds (PRF) and funding from […]
The skilled nursing industry is facing a defining moment that could determine the future of Medicaid reimbursement, with a new model emerging that ties increased dollars to facility performance. “I doubt that we’re going to get another chance,” Zimmet Healthcare Services CEO Marc Zimmet said Tuesday at the annual eCap conference in Miami. This as […]
The clock is ticking on the long-term care sector. Whether an operator is part of a larger organization, a continuing care retirement community (CRCC), or a standalone facility, industry headwinds are pushing leaders across the country to think more closely about what moving to private rooms would look like for their organization. For many that […]
The COVID-19 pandemic placed skilled nursing facilities under an intense, national microscope, while also devastating the industry’s workforce. As such, the cost of skilled care increased, placing more attention on Medicaid, the largest payer of nursing home care. The resources committed to long-term care represent close to 60% of national Medicaid spending. Yet in many […]
The vast majority of skilled nursing and senior living operators, 84%, are currently tapping agency and temp staff to help with staffing shortages, according to the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care’s (NIC) most recent executive survey. Now in its 31st iteration since the COVID-19 pandemic began, responses were collected from 70 small, […]
Any builder knows constructing a house requires more than just erecting four walls and a roof. Although those components are crucial, a house also needs a good foundation along with electrical and plumbing work. In a similar vein, skilled nursing operator budgets are more than just money in and money out. Like building a house, […]
From increased facility access points and HVAC innovation to rethinking communal and private spaces, nursing homes built in the wake of COVID-19 are expected to come with a different look and feel, with more space to spread out, compared to more traditional facilities. Charleston, W.Va-based Stonerise has 17 transitional and skilled nursing care centers throughout […]
Just like with COVID-19 infection, no one was immune when it came to senior housing operators and the subsequent financial challenges created by the pandemic. It affected every community type – all sizes, all business models— including skilled nursing. All have been struggling with occupancy. Recent numbers from CliftonLarsonAllen show that as of January 2021, […]
The most agonizing struggle to find and retain operational staff at skilled nursing facilities continues to be a condition in search of a cure. The pandemic worsened the situation, magnifying concerns about health and safety, which were then piled onto already low wages and relatively uncompetitive pay. Hero pay has been a nice gesture, but […]
Skilled nursing facilities have benefited from some Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rule changes that came into effect over the pandemic — but providers should expect these waivers to be removed. While provisions related to telehealth might be lasting, Harvard Medical School Healthcare Policy Professor Dr. David Grabowski does not expect some of […]
Looking to the future, skilled nursing facilities will need to get creative and find new ways to attract patients and their families in a post-acute care continuum that’s becoming more and more crowded and competitive. A report from Plante Moran looking at how SNFs can rebound from the pandemic shows that nearly 500 surveyed by […]
As skilled nursing facilities across the U.S. have begun to see occupancy rates rise, policymakers continue to reevaluate where care is delivered in the post-acute setting. The pendulum continues to shift toward at-home care. Just last month, the Biden administration unveiled a $400 billion plan to expand coverage of home-and community-based services, noting, in particular, […]
Whether COVID-19 will usher in a permanent demographic shift toward post-acute and long-term care in the home remains uncertain, but there’s clear evidence that single-occupancy rooms are becoming less of a nursing home luxury and more of the baseline cost of doing business. The demand for privacy had been growing before the pandemic, consulting firm […]
The margins for skilled nursing facilities finally broke out of the red and to break-even levels, according to the latest benchmarking report from consulting firm Plante Moran. But occupancy remained stagnant from 2017 to 2018, and staffing costs continue to increase. And Medicaid remains the elephant in the room when it comes to making the […]
In the lead-up to the new year, Skilled Nursing News took a look back at the top stories of 2019, and made our best predictions about the trends that will shape — and potentially rock — the post-acute and long-term care space in 2020. For these first business days of 2020, we decided to let […]
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