SNF Staffing, Mandates, and More

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Seema Verma, former CMS head, spoke out yesterday regarding the proposed staffing mandate (hours and type of staff, per resident per day) proposed rule, indicating her opinion that the approach was flawed. A recap article on her comments is here: https://www.mcknights.com/news/former-cms-chief-verma-regulators-over-their-skis-with-staffing-mandate/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NWLTR_MLT_DAILYUPDATE_110223&hmEmail=IjP1GPaY%2BJ2uvsLxTJ79bVeRWY7ycbnr&sha256email=aa4cb7c695037c31a216b9562788596b6fcd012145d566f31440b6fcd139c8a9 Regular readers know that I have covered various topics on healthcare staffing, particularly as … Read more

Wednesday Feature: The Power of Positive Thinking

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Happy Hump Day and Happy All Saints Day or All Hallows Day! For many in Latin American countries, this day is far bigger than Halloween. It is a day to celebrate Christian martyrs and saints known and unknown, celebrating the connection between the living and the deceased. In Catholicism, it is a day of reverence … Read more

MedPAC and Medicare Advantage

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In yesterday’s post, Mish-Mash Monday, in the section about the House Budget Committee’s Health Care Task Force, I offered some commentary regarding MedPAC (Medicare Payment Advisory Commission) and Medicare Advantage plans. I also included a letter from the senior living trade association LeadingAge to the Congressional task force that references MedPAC’s concerns regarding Medicare Advantage … Read more

Mish-Mash Monday

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A new week and lots of data/info. coming on a variety of fronts. Today’s post is less about one thing and more about a few things, a bit of smorgasbord to start the week. State by State SNF Data/CLA: Back at the start of the month, I wrote a post on the state of the SNF … Read more

Friday Feature: Important COVID Criminal Case Dismissed

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Ten days ago, I wrote a post about COVID litigation and how it was not only mounting but also morphing in terms of scope. Cases were predominantly focused on responsibility for infections at the senior living end such as, my ‘family member’ caught COVID at XYZ Manor and died, so therefore XYZ Manor is responsible … Read more

Boomers and Senior Living: What to Expect

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There is a constant discussion within the senior housing/senior living industry about the impact Baby Boomers will have on the industry. Their numbers (boomers) are huge (hence the name, “boomers”). The Baby Boom generation name is reflective of the post-WWII period of 1946 to 1964. During this period, families grew rapidly having two or more … Read more

Wednesday Feature: Another, Different Pandemic

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Happy Hump Day! The purpose of these Wednesday detours from the usual health policy, economics, senior living/senior housing/post-acute care stuff is to help readers and followers either add a touch of levity to their day or (to) cause them to think a bit differently about the world. Consider Wednesday Features as a deviation from the … Read more

Sr. Living M&A Update – Third Quarter

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This topic fits a line from the old police serials of my younger days. These are the favorites I watched religiously like Adam-12, the Rookies, The FBI, etc. The line, generally at a crime scene: Move on folks, nothing to see here. That line fits today’s topic. The mid-year report illustrated softness in activity principally … Read more

Real Estate Sales Report – News Worsens for CCRCs/Life Plan Communities

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With occupancy rebounding to pre-pandemic levels and demand remaining strong, CCRCs/Life Plan Communities continue to face economic headwinds from capitalizing on improving market conditions. Capital costs continue to rise making borrowing money a challenge or alternatively, perhaps adding additional debt service costs if existing debt is variable. Accessing capital is nearly imperative for most CCRCs/Life … Read more

Friday Feature: A Day Off

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I have the pleasure of living in one of the more beautiful spots of the country. I am biased but I also, am not alone in this opinion. Galena, IL is home and where my/our office is. Conde Nast ranks it as one the friendliest cities in America and Forbes called it one of the … Read more