Healthcare, Senior Living, Economics
Rarely do I write about a specific company as my work doesn’t focus on individual companies per se, more on industries and the policy/economics of health care industry segments. Occasionally, a company’s story typifies an industry flaw or trend or the same is illustrative of an endemic issue (Vitas for example). Amedisys’ continued saga of … Read more
Last week I spoke at two joint provider-surveyor training conferences regarding QAPI or more specifically, how it really works and what it looks like in “real-time”. QAPI is a new survey requirement for SNFs; fully expanded to Quality Assurance, Performance Improvement. Up until recently, SNFs were required by federal conditions of participation to have a Quality Assurance function, … Read more
Since last week, I’ve fielded a number of questions/inquiries stemming from the PBS segment on Assisted Living. Interesting, a number of the queries have come from sources tangential to the industry (policy folks, trade associations, advocacy groups, etc.). Thematically, these sources are looking for answers as to “why” and “what can be done”. Aside from … Read more
PBS is planning on airing a segment tomorrow (Tuesday, July 30) on its program Frontline, highlighting Assisted Living care in the United States (titled “Life and Death in Assisted Living”). Much of the content focuses on Emeritus and other large, for-profit operators. A link to the PBS website follows as summary to the broadcast. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/pressroom/frontline-propublica-investigate-assisted-living-in-america/ … Read more
Lately I have fielded a growing number of questions regarding various applications/uses of the False Claims Act and Medicare billing inquiries. What is disconcerting about these inquiries is their source; too many from providers or provider organizations. One in particular arises out of an acquisition and this bears special note and comment which, I have … Read more
More than two years ago I wrote a post regarding “five” things every SNF administrator should focus on and lo and behold, a reader asked late last week if I would revisit this subject. She (the reader) is not an SNF administrator so she asked if I could focus more globally; sort of a “best practices” … Read more
Across a recent engagement that spanned a large system, wide geography and about a year’s worth of work, I had the chance to reflect numerous times on “what” has changed in the post-acute arena, particularly applicable to SNFs, over my 30 years. Below I’ve organized my thoughts in “eras” or periods of time. Cost Based/The … Read more
Periodically, the source for a post on this site is the accumulation of thematically condensed questions that I receive regularly and with frequency; what I now call the “buzz”. While the “buzz” for me is fairly constant across the post-acute/seniors housing industry, the pitch does vary, sometimes daily but most often, weekly. I guess it just … Read more
Last October I wrote a post regarding the development of an Economic Value Analysis and how the same is important for marketing seniors housing and skilled nursing. A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a post regarding feasibility tests key to project success and targeted feasibility. Later this year, in October at Leading Age’s annual conference … Read more
A frequent, recurring question that I field, especially for CCRCs and seniors housing providers is “what” financial feasibility tests are most important before a project is started or for that matter, financed. Given that capital is still relatively tight, project feasibility and key financial tests are today, critically important to assure the best financing terms available … Read more