Analyzing the 2023 Cost of Care Survey: Trends in Long-Term Care Rate Increases

On Tuesday, the Genworth 2023 Cost of Care Survey was released. Year-over-year rate increases in long-term care/senior living ranged from 1% to 10%, depending on the setting (SNF, Assisted Living, etc.). The report is available here: Genworth Cost of Care 2023 The report is interesting though in some ways, a bit misleading as data is … Read more

Core Administrative Competency: SNF

As I have written before and readers know, I field as many questions and provide as many resources as I can “free” of charge.  My e-mail is publicly available for contact on this site and on my LinkedIn page.  The title of this post thus, is a reference to the many questions I’ve received as of … Read more

SNFs: Five Competitive Strategies Worthy of Investment

One of the top questions I’m asked by clients, readers, students, and interested parties everywhere is how can my organization excel in a competitive environment.  In other words, how can I build my organization’s value proposition such that the organization becomes the provider of choice in the market?  My answer is always thematically the same: … Read more

Medicare SNF Cuts: Fact, Fiction, Probability

In early May, CMS released its proposed rule for FY 2012 concerning Medicare PPS reimbursement for SNFs.  As most followers of the industry from investors, to operators to developers know by now, CMS dropped a “bomb” to the industry indicating bluntly, a warning of a parity adjustment (reimbursement or payment reduction) of 11.3% or $3.94 billion.  In … Read more

Hospice Contracts in SNFs: Survey Reminders for the SNF

Due to a fair amount of travel recently, I’m a tad behind in pushing out updates, etc.  Despite my rather harried schedule, I have kept track of questions, issues, etc. and in the next week to ten days, I will endeavor to get caught up.  Please know that I do appreciate the comments and questions … Read more

Doc Fix Survives, Medicaid Ehanced Match Doesn’t

In another procedural vote on the revamped Jobs bill in the Senate, Democrats fell short of mustering 60 votes to end a Republican filibuster, effectively ending for now, legislative efforts to extend unemployment benefits.  The vote count was 57 to 41 to continue debate.  Dying with the extension of unemployment benefits are a series of … Read more

Hospice Contract Reminders for SNFs

On a fairly routine basis, I run across SNF Administrators and Directors of Nursing that continue to have issues with hospice patients in their facilities but not from the standpoint of the patient typically; from the standpoint of dealing with the Hospice and the terms of the contract between the Hospice and the SNF.  In … Read more

Health Care Reform: The Senate, the President and the Truth

In an effort to salvage some hope for the flagging Senate health reform bill and to provide sustenance for the neutered Harry Reid, President Obama convened all Democratic senators at the White House earlier this week for a strategy session.  Per Mr. Obama, this activity was not a roll call to establish a majority but … Read more

Skilled Nursing Facilities, Healthcare Reform and Gloomy Propsects

On October 1, the SNF industry received a 1.1% reduction in Medicare payments.  On October 13th, the Senate Finance Committee passed its version of Healthcare Reform, commonly known as the Baucus Bill.  While the Baucus Bill is the least penalizing to the industry, of the major health reform bills waiting in Congress, it is destined for the Senate shredder … Read more

Holding onto Your D.O.N.

In our annual Healthcare Leadership Labor Market Report released in July, we presented some rather alarming trends regarding the long-term care and post-acute care industry’s retention of nursing executives.  For example, we noted that 71% of the Directors of Nursing in nursing homes leave their positions each year.  We also noted that the average tenure … Read more