Healthcare, Senior Living, Economics
Yesterday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released its proposed rule for rates and other policy changes for FY 2011 (October 1, 2010) as applicable to Medicare inpatient stays within long-term acute care hospitals (LTAcH). The entire rule can be found at http://www.federalregister.gov/inspection.aspx#special. In their release, CMS noted that the proposed rule does … Read more
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
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
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
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
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
Within the past ten or so days, I took some time to review the financial and operating benchmarks for CCRCs. The past eighteen months have likely been the toughest operational and financial period ever for CCRCs. By the end of 2009, a small rebound in the economy via an increase in existing home sales, a … Read more
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
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
Ten SNF industry trends that will impact the industry financially and operationally in 2009 and 2010.