Behind the success of PACS Group’s (NYSE: PACS) high-growth model is the nursing home giant’s principle of entrusting its early career administrators with greater autonomy. In rejecting the traditional path, PACS allows administrators in training the opportunity to step into their roles with greater independence much earlier. Enabling young leaders to make crucial decisions and […]
Nursing homes in Ohio will soon receive financial incentives for each additional private room they offer, thanks to a proposal recently greenlit by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The initiative, set to launch in the coming months, was developed by the Ohio Department of Medicaid and revises the reimbursement structure for Medicaid-funded […]
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 […]
A Supreme Court decision on Friday could significantly weaken federal agencies’ authority to regulate industries, including powers of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), with wide implications for the recently finalized federal minimum staffing rule for nursing homes. The Supreme Court’s decision to discard the long-standing so-called Chevron doctrine is a “game changer,” […]
Operators have been opting for different payer sources other than Medicare Advantage plans given its persistent challenges. Medicare Advantage’s lower reimbursement rates compared to traditional Medicare and higher administrative burdens tied to prior authorizations and payment denials, have caused operators to seek even Medicaid as an alternative payer, emboldening efforts by advocacy groups to push […]
Expenditures for Nursing facilities and continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) is expected to reach $237.6 billion in 2026, and $337.4 billion by 2032, according to data released Wednesday. Nursing homes and CCRCs have been increasing steadily since 2021, states a report prepared by the Office of the Actuary (OACT) at the Centers for Medicare & […]
Planned power outages in response to wildfire threats are leaving some nursing homes in the dark – one facility in Boulder, Colorado was left without power for 28 hours. Generators kept running the facility’s oxygen machines, most refrigerators and freezers, hallway lights and Wi-Fi for phones and computers, according to a report originally from KFF. […]
As nursing homes take up artificial intelligence (AI) and other technology advances as part of operations, it’s crucial to not only involve nurses in its implementation, but to bring to their attention AI’s limitations. Besides the fact that minimizing nurse involvement in such decisions can give rise to general distrust among clinical staff as well […]
Managed care’s growth across all health care settings, including nursing homes, has pushed reimbursement rates lower, and operators are implementing strategies to counter the situation. For starters, operators expressed the need to be well equipped for negotiating better rates with managed care organizations (MAOs). And, coming armed with cost of care data to the negotiating […]
As part of already proposed legislation, U.S. Democratic Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania is pushing for an injection of billions of dollars to increase the direct care workforce and improve pay. Casey’s Long-Term Care Workforce Support Act could be viewed as a funding mechanism for the Biden administration’s federal nursing home staffing mandate, which would […]
The newly finalized minimum staffing standards by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have ignited a significant debate among nursing home leaders regarding the inclusion and role of licensed practical nurses (LPNs). The mandate, announced on April 22, 2024, establishes new comprehensive minimum nurse staffing requirements, aiming to enhance the quality of care […]
The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has come under scrutiny for its oversight of nursing facilities, particularly regarding incidents of resident elopement – a problem that continues to impact facilities across the nation. Judging by Maine’s example, elopement is a tricky problem to tackle, and existence of tough regulation alone isn’t addressing […]
Nursing homes in states with large rural communities have long struggled to grapple with workforce issues, and for most of these rural providers there seems to be no end in sight, making fulfilling the federal government’s staffing mandate an impossibility. For such communities, registered nurses (RNs) are especially hard to recruit, and statistics paint a […]
Lawyers and other leaders in the nursing home sector believe the American Health Care Association’s (AHCA) lawsuit is strong, framed well and likely to succeed, with a decision possible by early 2025. An injunction from the plaintiffs – all 5-Star facilities located in Texas along with AHCA – regarding staffing rule’s implementation should follow in […]
Capital Funding Group (CFG) has successfully closed a $9.75 million Bridge-to-HUD loan to refinance a 123-bed skilled nursing facility in Massachusetts. The transaction was completed on May 1, 2024, for a nationally recognized borrower. “CFG has been a cornerstone in the healthcare financing sector for more than 30 years, and we’re proud to help yet […]
Despite the increasing need for long-term care due to an aging population, providers are facing significant challenges in recruiting and retaining workers – many of whom cite long hours and low pay as the reason for leaving the profession. “My paycheck, you know, was literally just nothing,” Culix Wibonele, a CNA, told CNHI News. “I […]
LeadingAge joins a slew of other nursing home industry voices in urging a multi-faceted strategy following the finalization of the federal minimum staffing rule a month ago. The advocacy group is pursuing legislative, legal and regulatory avenues to stop the mandate and build the workforce. Katie Smith Sloan, president and CEO of LeadingAge, said, “We […]
Over the past five years, long-term care facilities in Florida, including a few nursing homes but mostly assisted-living facilities, have been pressured due to a steep rise in commercial property insurance rates. According to the state’s Agency for Health Care Administration, insurance premiums in Florida rose by 125% during this period, with an average of […]
Although there is a chance the federal government’s staffing mandate may be overturned, operators should still be aware of how upcoming changes could impact their operations. This is according to sector experts, who said that while the mandate is well-intentioned, it lacks a comprehensive plan to address the realities of staffing shortages and regional variations […]
A recent lawsuit filed in federal court accuses the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) of failing to adequately inspect and investigate complaints in the state’s nursing facilities, leading to significant instances of abuse and neglect. The lawsuit, representing five anonymous residents with mobility impairments and complex health needs, claims MDH’s inaction disproportionately harms residents with […]
