Health Care Reform and Assisted Living

In a bit of an indirect manner, Assisted Living got a boost from health care reform, albeit in a typical governmental fashion.  With the Feds willing to use Medicaid as the vehicle for expanded coverage programs for underinsured (those within 150% of the poverty limit with high-deductible plans) and the uninsured, coupled with additional funding for Home … Read more

Health Care Reform Implications: Home Health Care

I’m a tad behind where I hoped to be in terms of getting these posts out.  Its been a bit  busy over the last ten days or so but headed into the Holiday weekend, a break in the schedule affords me the opportunity to “maybe” get caught up. Of all of the industry sectors touched by … Read more

Health Care Reform Implications: SNFs

The following is a summary of the major provisions in the recently passed health care reform bill.  Please note: I have not attempted to cover every nuance in detail but to provide a highlight for a point of reference.  If any reader has additional questions or wants additional insight on any particular provision, please let … Read more

The Housing Market and CCRC Prospects: What Each Means to the Other

It has been a world-wind few days (make that a week) analyzing all that is or was, health care reform.  In some respects, I’m glad that the meat of health care reform is done for now though admittedly, I’m disappointed at the outcome.  Suffice to say, I will catch-up on the ramifications of the legislation … Read more

Medpac Report to Congress: 2011

Earlier this week, Medpac (Medicare Payment and Advisory Commission) released its report to Congress.  Primary among Medpac’s duties is its provision of recommendations regarding payment updates under Medicare.  Below, I have broken out and summarized the recommendations. Hospice (the points below the first bullet are continued recommendations from 2009) 2011 rate is the market-basket less a … Read more

Non-Profit Health Care Outlook for 2010

Moody’s Investor Service released their annual sector outlook today for not-for-profit health care organizations, stating that they (Moody’s) continue to maintain a “negative” outlook on the industry.  Important to note in this report is that the focus is principally on hospitals and since the report is produced by Moody’s, its primary perspective is on credit … Read more

Assisted Living Update

As 2010 comes in and looking back on 2009, the Assisted Living market has been on a bit of a roller-coaster.  Without question, the downturn in the economy caused some provider pain most notably among some of the larger, heavily leveraged companies (e.g. Sunrise and Sunwest).  Occupancy rates were soft in many parts of the country, … Read more