Rethink - Skilled Nursing News

Jason Murray, CEO and Co-Founder, PACS Group

Skilled Nursing News — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 14:44:26 +0000

Joining today's episode of the RETHINK podcast is Jason Murray, CEO and co-founder of PACS Group, who began his career as a CNA 25 years ago and helped build the company into a major nursing home operator.

After its public debut in June 2024, PACS quickly became the subject of an investigation into its billing practices. Murray says that experience led to what he now describes as a “culture of compliance” within the company.

Don't miss this exciting episode!

Tracey Moorhead, President and CEO, AAPACN

Skilled Nursing News — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 16:20:57 +0000

The next episode of our podcast, Rethink, is now available!

In this episode, Skilled Nursing News speaks with Tracey Moorhead, President and CEO of the American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing (AAPACN).

Subscribe to the Rethink Podcast to be notified when new episodes are released. Listen today!

Bill Weisberg, CEO, Saber Healthcare Group

Skilled Nursing News — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 16:11:00 +0000

The next episode of our podcast, Rethink, is now available!

In this episode, Skilled Nursing News speaks with Bill Weisberg, CEO of Saber Healthcare Group.

Subscribe to the Rethink Podcast to be notified when new episodes are released. Listen today!

Morris Isaacson, Head of Growth and Insight, Empeon

Skilled Nursing News — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 16:24:59 +0000

SNF-centric human capital management platform Empeon has over 630,000 users, and today's sponsored episode of RETHINK dives into the insights from that wealth of data, starting with this: more than 20% of skilled nursing labor hours now come from agency staff.

Joining host Jack Silverstein of Skilled Nursing News is Empeon Head of Growth and Insight, Morris Isaacson. Along with a dive into the 20% figure, Isaacson shares insights on seasonal hiring trends, fallout from the government shutdown, and his own predictions for 2026. Join us!

This episode of RETHINK is brought to you by Empeon.

Gary Blake, CEO & Co-Founder, Creative Solutions in Healthcare

Skilled Nursing News — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 20:35:52 +0000

Joining us in this episode of RETHINK is Gary Blake, CEO of Creative Solutions in Health Care, who shares his outlook for 2026 and the strategies that helped the company thrive in 2025. He breaks down operational moves that improved staffing stability and explains how expanding the use of nurse practitioners has reduced hospital transfers while raising patient satisfaction.

Gary also details how Creative Solutions has strengthened relationships with hospital partners and why he believes the industry must push back against an increasingly punitive regulatory environment — including problematic trends in nursing home surveys. Looking ahead, he outlines the company’s plan to significantly expand its Texas footprint.

Tune in now!

Amy Kaszak, Curana Health, and Armando Guzman, Cantex

Skilled Nursing News — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 17:49:43 +0000

As financial pressures mount for skilled nursing operators, many are finding that value-based care is more than just the catalyst for improved patient outcomes: it’s also the key to achieving long-term financial stability.

This is the main focus of the latest installment of RETHINK: a podcast on the future of the skilled nursing industry. In the episode, Jack Silverstein of Skilled Nursing News is joined by two guests: Amy Kaszak, Curana Health’s Executive Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, and Armando Guzman, Chief Population Health Officer for Cantex.

Together, Amy and Armando discuss all things value-based care, exploring the benefits for operators, the wins that Cantex has seen in its partnership with Curana, and why operators who think of value-based care as something in the future need to realize that the opposite is likely true: they’re probably already in it.

Tune in today!

Tom McClelland, Chief Technology Officer, CarDon & Associates

Skilled Nursing News — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 21:14:42 +0000

Joining us on today’s episode of RETHINK from Skilled Nursing News is Tom McClelland, Chief Technology Officer at CarDon & Associates, which operates 20 senior living communities and affiliated health care services throughout Indiana. Tom is a military veteran who served in Iraq, where he specialized in developing knowledge management solutions and technology for the Army as a Warrant Officer.

Don’t miss this exciting episode!

Dr. Andrew McNamara, Chief Medical Officer, Trilogy Health Services

Skilled Nursing News — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 19:48:03 +0000

In the latest episode of RETHINK, Trilogy Health Services Chief Medical Officer Dr. Andrew McNamara shares his perspective on the company's value-based care strategy, common misunderstandings around Medicare Advantage, ideas for simplifying MA processes, and how to address rising resident acuity. Trilogy operates over 134 senior living communities across five states, with many offering the full continuum of care, including skilled nursing.

Kimberly Green, CEO, Sage Integrated Health

Skilled Nursing News — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 19:17:12 +0000

In this episode of RETHINK, CEO Kimberly Green shares her journey that led to her founding Sage Integrated Health this year. Green has been in the skilled nursing industry for decades, formerly as Chief Operating Officer at the Diakonos Group. Sage Integrated Health serves the Greater Tulsa and Oklahoma City markets. Green spoke with SNN about her new venture, and what it has been like to start a new nursing home business amid ongoing staffing shortages, shifting policy trends and an industry evolving in real time. Our full interview also offers wide-ranging insights on Medicaid cuts, value-based care and the future of reimbursement programs, among other hot-button topics. Subscribe to the Rethink Podcast to be notified when new episodes are released. Listen today!

Eric Palm, Chief Growth Officer, Provider Partners Connect Care

Skilled Nursing News — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 19:44:53 +0000

Joining us on this episode of Rethink, the Skilled Nursing News podcast, is Eric Palm, Chief Growth Officer at Provider Partners Connect Care. At 35, Eric is part of a new generation of health care executives shaping the future of long-term care with a blend of innovation, empathy, and real-world experience. Provider Partners Connect Care is a value-based care organization focused exclusively on long-term care. Its High-Needs ACO REACH program is a purpose-built value-based care solution created specifically for Medicare beneficiaries with complex health conditions. Eric leads the program's growth. In today’s conversation, Eric shares how his team helps long-term care operators and clinicians make value-based care work in the real world, and addresses some of the common misconceptions that still surround the model. Tune in now!

Zach Cattell, President and CEO, Cardon & Associates

Skilled Nursing News — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 17:27:02 +0000

In this episode of Rethink, Skilled Nursing News speaks with Zach Cattell, newly appointed President and CEO of Cardon & Associates, a second-generation, family-owned company operating 20 senior living communities and affiliated health care services throughout Indiana. With a background in health care law and public policy, Zach brings more than two decades of leadership experience in long-term care, regulatory strategy, and value-based health care innovation. Cattell discusses Cardon’s achievements thus far in 2025, including strong census numbers and success in value-based purchasing as well as the company's biggest challenges, such as Indiana’s shift to full Medicaid managed care. He also outlines key performance targets as well as investments in new service lines, pharmacy integration and workforce initiatives.

Dr. Robert Russell, Chief Medical Officer, Majestic Care

Skilled Nursing News — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 21:18:44 +0000

In this episode, Skilled Nursing News speaks with Dr. Robert Russell, Chief Medical Officer for Majestic Care. Russell touched on survey changes set to take effect, shared his thoughts on the legal decision concerning the federal staffing mandate, and shared why he thinks embracing technology is key to meeting an evolving clinical landscape. Tune in now!

Jessie McGill, Senior Curriculum Development Specialist, AAPACN

Skilled Nursing News — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Joining us on today's episode of RETHINK is Jessie McGill, Senior Curriculum Development Specialist of the American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing, or AAPACN, which represents more than 20,000 post-acute care nurses and professionals. In this interview, Jessie discusses the Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing program, provides the ins and outs of how this program is progressing, and lays out the strategies and tools that SNF leaders can use to be successful.

Keith Persinger, CEO, Provider Partners Connect Care

Skilled Nursing News — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Rethink, Skilled Nursing News speaks with Keith Persinger, CEO of Provider Partners Connect Care, about how providers can navigate the evolving skilled nursing payment landscape and capitalize on value-based care. Persinger also explains how Provider Partners Connect Care’s High-Needs ACO REACH program helps long-term care operators and physicians enhance care, reduce hospitalizations, and share in financial rewards—without added risk or complexity.

Bernie McGuinness, CEO, Journey Skilled Nursing

Skilled Nursing News — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Bernie McGuinness, CEO, Journey Skilled Nursing by Skilled Nursing News

Aimee Middleton, Chief Operating Officer, Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society

Skilled Nursing News — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 05:00:06 +0000

In this episode, Skilled Nursing News speaks with Aimee Middleton, chief operating officer at the Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society, one of the largest non-profit providers of senior care and services, including skilled nursing. The Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Good Samaritan Society has 200 locations in 17 states currently. Middleton spoke about ongoing staffing challenges and how her organization is countering these through technology-based efficiencies and creative workforce solutions that include an exciting Administrator-in-Training program as well as a CNA-retention program.

Bob Lane, Director, Long-term Care & Senior Living, Forvis Mazars

Skilled Nursing News — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Bob Lane, Director, Long-term Care & Senior Living, Forvis Mazars by Skilled Nursing News

Barb Clapp, CEO, Dwyer Workforce Development

Skilled Nursing News — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Skilled Nursing News speaks with Barb Clapp, CEO of Dwyer Workforce Development, which has been training and placing workers in partner nursing homes – a footprint that is fast growing. Since the program’s inception in 2021, Dwyer Workforce Development has trained around 6,000 CNAs, according to Clapp.

Rick Matros, CEO, Sabra Healthcare REIT

Skilled Nursing News — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Skilled Nursing News speaks with Rick Matros, CEO of Sabra Healthcare REIT. Matros, who has served as CEO for Sabra since May 2010, discussed the challenges in skilled nursing financing, why Medicaid rates are expected to remain high through 2025, and the REIT’s focus on innovative providers along with tech pilots to enhance operations.

Neil Pruitt, Chairman and CEO, PruittHealth

Skilled Nursing News — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Skilled Nursing News speaks with Neil Pruitt, chairman and CEO of PruittHealth, which has been expanding and diversifying at a steady pace with more facilities and new services lines, and no plans to downsize. “We always say we don't sell. We buy and we build,” he told Skilled Nursing News.

Clifton J. Porter II, Senior Vice President of Government Relations, AHCA/NCAL

Skilled Nursing News — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 16:52:55 +0000

The next episode of our podcast, Rethink, is now available! In this episode, Skilled Nursing News speaks with Clifton J. Porter II. Clif very recently was tapped by the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living to be its next president and CEO starting this fall; he currently serves as the association’s senior vice president of government relations. He expressed excitement to put unique solutions in front of policymakers as part of his new position, while also reflecting on how lobbying for the sector has changed since the pandemic. Subscribe to the Rethink Podcast to be notified when new episodes are released. Listen today!

Derek Prince, president and CEO, HMG Healthcare

Skilled Nursing News — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 15:02:22 +0000

In this episode, Skilled Nursing News speaks with Derek Prince, president and CEO of HMG Healthcare. HMG oversees 37 post-acute care facilities across Texas and Kansas. Derek is one of the Texas operators leading the American Health Care Association’s lawsuit against federal agencies, seeking to rescind the staffing rule. Derek has also served as a board member for the Texas Health Care Association since 2005. Subscribe to the Rethink Podcast to be notified when new episodes are released. Listen today!

Mike Bailey, President and CEO, American Health Partners

Skilled Nursing News — Fri, 10 May 2024 19:59:23 +0000

In this episode, Skilled Nursing News speaks with Michael Bailey, president and CEO of American Health Partners. Mike discusses the company’s growing TruHealth division, a proactive team of nurse practitioners and physician assistants providing coordinated care at the bedside, and other top-of-mind challenges to the sector including survey changes and the finalized federal staffing mandate.

Eran Arden, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, RESTORE-Skills

Skilled Nursing News — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 15:03:03 +0000

In this episode, Skilled Nursing News speaks with Eran Arden, Chief Executive Officer and Founder at RESTORE-Skills, which recently launched a new platform to enable skilled nursing operators to improve efficiency, make data-driven decisions, and enhance productivity. Arden, who began his career in digital marketing in Israel, says that in the “post PDPM world,” nursing home operators must foster collaboration between skilled nursing teams; using data to form a unified view of the patient process across multidisciplinary teams.

Nicole Pretre, CEO, Cedar Community

Skilled Nursing News — Thu, 28 Mar 2024 18:37:09 +0000

In this episode, Skilled Nursing News speaks with Nicole Pretre, president and CEO of Cedar Community, a 5-campus community with skilled nursing. Nicole says that while often overlooked, employee surveys have turned out to be turnover busters. While time intensive, they have been effective tools, alongside other workforce initiatives, in allowing clear communication and addressing employee needs to the point that agency use at Cedar Community has been drastically reduced. Listen to the episode to learn more about how Cedar Community has been able to improve retention amid a tumultuous period for labor across the sector.

Jerald Cosey, Founder and CEO, J. Cosey Speaks

Skilled Nursing News — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 17:58:56 +0000

In this episode, Skilled Nursing News speaks with Jerald Cosey, senior health care expert and owner of J. Cosey Speaks, who served as operational leadership development director for American Senior Communities until September 2023. Jerald, a senior care veteran, says nursing home operators must "rehydrate and motivate" their staff through leadership development, reigniting purpose while investing in skill set growth fro management. All the while, the nursing home space should work hard to rebuild trust among its workforce and with the public.

Kent Rodgers, president and CEO of CarDon & Associates

Skilled Nursing News — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 19:05:57 +0000

In this episode, Skilled Nursing News speaks with Kent Rodgers, president and CEO of CarDon & Associates. Kent discusses CarDon’s 90% occupancy on average across its 19 buildings, all while acquiring a pharmacy and diving into the I-SNP world with Optum, and reaching an “equilibrium” between its labor retention and agency use.

Lynn M. Hood, CEO, Principle LTC

Skilled Nursing News — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 16:40:33 +0000

Lynn M. Hood, CEO, Principle LTC by Skilled Nursing News

Leslie Campbell, COO of Touchstone Communities

Skilled Nursing News — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 14:00:03 +0000

Leslie Campbell, COO of Touchstone Communities by Skilled Nursing News

Tom Coble, President & CEO, Elmbrook Management Company

Skilled Nursing News — Fri, 12 May 2023 12:00:20 +0000

Tom Coble, President & CEO, Elmbrook Management Company by Skilled Nursing News

Stuart Lindeman, President and CEO, Mission Health Communities

Skilled Nursing News — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 21:46:34 +0000

Stuart Lindeman, President and CEO, Mission Health Communities by Skilled Nursing News

Joel VanEaton, EVP, Compliance and Regulatory Affairs, Broad River Rehab

Skilled Nursing News — Mon, 30 Jan 2023 15:00:08 +0000

Joel VanEaton, EVP, Compliance and Regulatory Affairs, Broad River Rehab by Skilled Nursing News

Jason Murray, CEO, Providence Group

Skilled Nursing News — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 22:17:49 +0000

The 52nd episode of our podcast, Rethink, is now available. Operating 152 facilities across seven states, the Providence Group strongly believes the best decisions are made at the local level. Each of Providence Group’s facilities have their own unique needs, along with the other health care providers across the care continuum in each respective market. That means being deeply integrated into each individual community is crucial, according to CEO Jason Murray. It’s a model that has been replicated by operators across the country, and one that he sees as the best model for success in the skilled nursing industry. Skilled Nursing News spoke with Murray more on Providence’s decentralized, market model type of structure, what factors he considers when looking to grow and more. In this episode of Rethink, learn: • What Murray sees as the biggest regulatory challenge or threat to the nursing home industry • Providence Group's staffing wins and ongoing challenges • What Murray sees as the skilled nursing facility of the future

Mark McKenzie, CEO, Focused Post Acute Care Partners

Skilled Nursing News — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 15:43:05 +0000

The 51st episode of our podcast, Rethink, is now available. The skilled nursing industry won’t likely see material, system-wide change until the sector’s stakeholders including CMS, operators, payors, as well as residents and their respective advocacy groups, can get on the same page. That’s according to Focused Post Acute Care Partners CEO Mark McKenzie. The industry is ever evolving, he said, and while subtle improvements and strides will likely occur — like the move to private rooms — big changes will take big conversations. McKenzie has tried to make his voice, and the voices of his Texas-based team, heard at both the state and federal levels — especially as the state legislature will convene next year and discuss, among other things, potentially increasing nursing home Medicaid rates. He remains hopeful and believes state officials are more aware and have a much deeper knowledge of the challenges the nursing home industry faces than they did before. Operators in the state receive 154.98 per patient day even though the methodology says they should be making about $275 per patient day. I spoke with McKenzie on what adequate reimbursement looks like in the Lone Star state, the place in skilled nursing for heavily rural operators like Focused Post Acute Care partners, the need to staff up for higher acuity residents and more. In this episode of Rethink, learn: • The importance McKenzie places, and thinks others should also, on heavily rural operators in the skilled nursing sector • Whether CMS's changes to the special focus facility (SFF) program will make operators like Focused Post Acute Care Partners think twice about taking on such buildings in the future • The wins and ongoing challenges McKenzie's executive team faces with staffing

Deke Cateau, CEO, A.G. Rhodes

Skilled Nursing News — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 11:00:26 +0000

The 50th episode of our podcast, Rethink, is now available. In an industry fraught with headline risk – and still in the national spotlight – the future of skilled nursing will be wrapped up in words. Namely, the term “nursing home.” Deke Cateau, CEO of Georgia nonprofit operator A.G. Rhodes, says the term will become obsolete, but populations will still need to have communities where individuals can no longer be taken care of at home, or in an assisted living setting. It’s all part of redefining the sector at a crucial point in time, as leaders also take a hard look at the future business model of skilled nursing facilities. Some operators have already started specializing in higher acuity, short-term care while others wonder what parts of the care continuum will pick up long-term nursing home residents. Skilled Nursing News spoke with Deke more on this separation, catalysts for change and how nonprofits like A.G. Rhodes will fit into the skilled nursing sector in the years ahead. In this episode of Rethink, learn: • Why Cateau is hopeful for the future • How A.G. Rhodes is creating private rooms for its mostly Medicaid population • What the evolution of the sector will look like, from terminology to acuity

Eitan Zeffren, Founder and CEO, Pearl Healthcare

Skilled Nursing News — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 21:27:57 +0000

The 49th episode of our podcast, Rethink, is now available. Providing a family oriented company culture where the benefits of a corporate system and organization still exist has been a differentiator for Pearl Healthcare, as the nursing home operator continues to grow throughout its regional footprint. Starting in 2018, Pearl Healthcare acquired a majority of its six facilities in the last year. Pearl doesn’t take a cookie cutter approach to operations as every facility and market has different needs and functions differently, even when currently only operating in one state, according to CEO Eitan Zeffren. Most of the operator’s corporate and regional teams also work out of facilities each day, instead of sticking to one corporate office. It’s another way Zeffren has looked to build strong relationships with leaders from the top down, in hopes of boosting morale and retention. In this episode of Rethink, learn: • Why it's important to think local when operating skilled nursing facilities • How Pearl has worked to build trust as a newer operator • What Zeffren's vision for what the nursing home of the future will look like

Chris Chirumbolo, CEO, Carespring

Skilled Nursing News — Fri, 02 Sep 2022 06:00:29 +0000

The 48th episode of our podcast, Rethink, is now available. When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) eased Covid-19 guidelines earlier in August, many let out a sigh of relief. But as the nursing home industry toils its way through operational recovery amidst a staffing shortage, leaders in the space can’t help but wonder when their turn will come to lessen some of the restrictions put in place more than two and a half years ago. That must be step one, according to Carespring CEO Chris Chirumbolo. And Chirumbolo isn’t the only one with such concerns. Providers across the country have struggled to recruit and retain staff in nursing homes when in many other workplaces testing and masking requirements are no longer in place. Covid continues to be an issue both in nursing homes and across the world, but both the number of hospitalizations and deaths have declined dramatically. In this episode of Rethink, learn: • Why Carespring has stuck to primarily building new facilities in its regional footprint • What factors Carespring considers when considering expansion • What the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) needs to hear from skilled nursing operators right now

Jennifer Robinson, President, SanStone Health & Rehabilitation

Skilled Nursing News — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 06:00:16 +0000

The 47th episode of our podcast, Rethink, is now available. With an eye to the future, SanStone Health & Rehabilitation is embarking down two different but parallel paths toward bolstering its workforce. The first is a focus on internal growth and the creation of succession plans for SanStone employees. That planning led Jennifer Robinson to the role she is in today as company president. The second is a focus on getting young people introduced to the skilled nursing sector as soon as possible — such as opening up summer internships for teenagers. It’s fundamental, according to Robinson, to get the state’s youth comfortable in a skilled nursing setting, and opening the facility doors for that type of exposure is a good start. Not unlike many other states across the country, North Carolina is expected to see a 116% increase in its population of individuals 85 and older. What can be done today can shape the workforce for the next 10 to 20 years, Robinson said. In this episode of Rethink, learn: • How SanStone is managing the industry-wide staffing crisis • What the operator has done to become a quality referral partner for hospitals • How SanStone has implemented a "ground up" operating mentality

Michelle Delker, CFO, Mission Health Communities

Skilled Nursing News — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 13:44:21 +0000

The 46th episode of our podcast, Rethink, is now available. There are a lot of things that keep Michelle Delker up at night. Ongoing workforce challenges are the obvious one, but the CFO of Mission Health Communities also thinks about state-level reimbursement and the ever changing regulatory requirement landscape. Despite the host of challenges facing skilled nursing providers, Mission Health is not sitting idly by, according to Delker. The Florida-based operator has invested more than $1 million in its own workforce to recruit and retain workers, including an in-house certified nursing assistant program that has resulted in a significant reduction in CNA agency use since its launch. In addition, Delker told SNN that feverishly engaging in conversations with leaders from the nine states that they operate in has been paramount to the company’s success. Mission Health operates 47 skilled nursing, senior living, assisted living and short-stay rehabilitation facilities across nine states. In this episode of Rethink, learn: • How Mission Health's investments in training and retention have paid off • What Delker sees as the biggest challenges facing skilled nursing providers today • How inflation and rising prices have impacted Mission Health

Dave Sedgwick, CEO, CareTrust REIT

Skilled Nursing News — Fri, 01 Jul 2022 14:23:54 +0000

The 45th episode of our podcast, Rethink, is now available. With the Biden administration looking to possibly clamp down on the role private equity and real estate investment trusts play in the nursing home industry, CareTrust REIT CEO David Sedgwick says the company is poised for continued growth in the sector. “We never took our foot off the pedal of acquisitions since Covid started,” he said of CareTrust’s growth strategy moving forward. He is concerned about what could come to pass in the next 9 to 12 months, as relief funds run out while skilled nursing facilities face inflationary pressures, all while occupancy slowly recovers. But if this comes to pass, CareTrust also is prepared to make investments in distressed properties and has a stable of quality operators that the REIT will trust with turnarounds. In this episode of Rethink, learn: • Why the skilled nursing industry is "as necessary as ever" as part of the care continuum post-Covid • How CareTrust operators have distinguished themselves • Why the next nine to 12 months could bring both a skilled nursing reckoning and also create investment opportunities

Nate Schema, President and CEO at The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society

Skilled Nursing News — Thu, 16 Jun 2022 21:40:07 +0000

The 44th episode of our podcast, Rethink, is now available. The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society is approaching its 100th birthday, and while the organization's leaders would like to see the not-for-profit skilled nursing operator provide care for another 100 years – that doesn’t come without enormous challenges. Good Samaritan has had to close or sell nine facilities in just the last eight months, the vast majority of which were in rural communities. Despite the significant headwinds seen by both Good Sam and the industry as a whole, CEO Nate Schema feels keeping providers like his operating in smaller markets is now more important than ever. In this episode of Rethink, learn: • Why Good Samaritan reversed course on its strategy of bringing in agency staff to avoid wing closures or halting admissions • How Good Samaritan has leaned on, and grown through, its partnership with health system Sanford Health during this challenging operating environment • Why there is still a place in skilled nursing for heavily rural and nonprofit operators

Tim Fields, CEO, Ignite Medical Resorts

Skilled Nursing News — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 06:00:20 +0000

The 43rd episode of our podcast, Rethink, is now available. Since Ignite Medical Resorts came on to the post-acute care scene in 2017, the central focus has been to do one thing really well. CEO Tim Fields’ goal is to be the best short-term rehab provider in the market. But that doesn’t mean Ignite has rested on its laurels. Park Ridge, Illinois-based Ignite has experienced notable growth — most recently with its entrance into the state of Texas as the operator of four skilled nursing facilities acquired by real estate investment trust LTC Properties in a $52 million deal. In this episode of Rethink, learn: • How SNFs can provide value through quality and outcomes, become closer with managed care organizations and better partners with the acute care world • What specific ways Ignite has worked to recruit and retain staff, including starting its own staffing agency • How Ignite has executed sustained growth over a relatively short period of time Subscribe to Rethink to be notified when new episodes are released.

Dr. Wayne Tasker and Dr. Richard Thompson Jr, TeamHealth

Skilled Nursing News — Tue, 17 May 2022 15:00:09 +0000

The 42nd episode of our podcast, Rethink, is now available. This episode of Rethink is sponsored by TeamHealth. Nursing homes with the right training and educational processes may be uniquely positioned to facilitate behavioral health services at a time when the patient population has become increasingly complex. Dr. Wayne Tasker and Dr. Richard Thompson Jr. joined Rethink to share the evolving definition of behavioral health as it applies to pos-acute care and what's changed relative to behavioral health needs during the pandemic. In this episode of Rethink, learn: - The biggest challenges providers are facing in regards to behavioral health - What SNFs can expect from behavioral health services being provided in their facilities - Key considerations around telehealth and behavioral health Subscribe to Rethink to be notified when new episodes are released. Listen today!

Bernie McGuinness, CEO, Majestic Care

Skilled Nursing News — Wed, 27 Apr 2022 20:53:21 +0000

The 41st episode of our podcast, Rethink, is now available. At a time when the industry is facing staffing shortages coupled with looming federal regulations and possible Medicare cuts — all the while recovering from Covid — it can be a scary time to be running a skilled nursing operator. That's according to Bernie McGuinness, CEO of Indiana-based Majestic Care. McGuinness joined Rethink to talk about how proposed Medicare cuts could further stymie the skilled nursing industry's recovery, and how Majestic Care's efforts on staffing have resulted in the reduction of — and in some cases — eliminated agency use. In this episode of Rethink, learn: • How the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently proposed Medicare cuts may hurt operators like Majestic Care • How they eliminated agency at one facility through its innovative recruiting and retaining efforts • Why now is not the right time to implement federal staffing minimums Subscribe to Rethink to be notified when new episodes are released.

Shelley Horst, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Reliant Rehabilitation

Skilled Nursing News — Tue, 26 Oct 2021 16:59:59 +0000

The 40th episode of our podcast, Rethink, is now available. This episode of Rethink is sponsored by Reliant Rehabilitation. Shelley Horst has always been passionate about helping skilled nursing facilities better collaborate with their post-acute partners, and her role as director of strategic partnerships at Reliant Rehabilitation allows her to do just that. With an abundance of experience in skilled nursing business development and working in managed care, Horst is able to provide insights through analytics and her own background to help SNFs develop a strategic marketing plan that better aligns with their hospital partner’s needs and to set them apart in the market. She joined Rethink to talk about her role, and why now especially is an important time to make a good first impression. Listen to this episode to learn: -- How marketing has taken on a whole new dimension in the last 18 months -- A few best practices for skilled nursing operators when it comes to connecting with and maintaining relationships with case managers -- How providers in today’s operating environment need to approach customer service compared to the pre-pandemic era

Dr. Buffy J. Lloyd-Krejci, CEO, IPCWell

Skilled Nursing News — Mon, 17 May 2021 16:21:42 +0000

Dr. Buffy Lloyd-Krejci made it her life's work to improve infection control practices, founding the consulting firm IPCWell to further that mission in long-term care facilities. As a result, she sees nursing home practices first-hand, and she wasn't surprised by how hard COVID-19 hit these facilities when it started spreading last year. Dr. Lloyd-Krejci worked with Doctors Without Borders in their missions in nursing homes in Detroit and Houston, and continues to work with nursing homes on various infection control challenges. She joined Rethink to talk about that work, and why she's optimistic about improvement for infection prevention practices in nursing homes. Listen to this episode to learn: -How the current regulatory landscape for skilled nursing facilities hinders good infection control -Why frontline staff are becoming increasingly demoralized about the survey process -How hospital regulations around infection prevention provide lessons for nursing home oversight

Mark Parkinson, President and CEO of the American Health Care Association (AHCA)

Skilled Nursing News — Wed, 14 Apr 2021 14:50:05 +0000

In the skilled nursing world, it was a truth universally acknowledged that the Patient-Driven Payment Model was a lifeline for operators trying to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting “business nightmare.” But the federal government has proposed a recalibration of the new system, and it’s not clear yet what that could mean for providers. Mark Parkinson, the president and CEO of the American Health Care Association, joined Rethink to talk about why SNFs can be more optimistic than in years past about the proposed changes from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services – and why the Biden administration’s push to invest $400 in home- and community-based care isn’t as antagonistic to SNFs as it might first appear. Listen to this episode to hear about: -The unanswered questions around occupancy and what needs to happen for recovery -Why the proposed PDPM recalibration isn’t likely to be a repeat of drastic Medicare cuts in 2011 -Elevating and investing in frontline caregivers, and what it will take to do that properly

Mikko Cook and Carrie Leljedal

Skilled Nursing News — Wed, 24 Mar 2021 15:15:08 +0000

The federal government in March ended a year-long nightmare for families across the country when it announced the relaxation of visitation bans at nursing homes in all but a few limited cases. But for the family members who spent 2020 working to reunite with their loved ones, the work won’t end along with the expiration of strict lockdowns. SNN sat down with a pair of those leaders — Mikko Cook and Carrie Leljedal — to learn what they want to see from operators and policymakers in the future. Listen to this podcast to discover: 1. What families think operators did wrong — and right — during the coronavirus 2. How states could facilitate essential caregiving programs to prevent future lockdowns And more!

Angela Perry, Administrator, Vernon Manor

Skilled Nursing News — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 16:52:47 +0000

When the first vaccines against COVID-19 received emergency use authorization, long-term care residents and workers at those facilities were at the front of the line to receive them. And as the shots have rolled out, residents have participated at high rates, and new COVID-19 cases among residents have plummeted. Frontline workers have been more hesitant – but with time, that could change. Angela Perry, the administrator at Vernon Manor Nursing Home in Connecticut, joined Rethink to talk about the facility's ongoing efforts to boost staff uptake of the vaccines – and how her facility is thinking about the future of keeping COVID-19 out as the federal partnership to distribute vaccines comes to a close. Listen to this episode to learn about: -- The ongoing process of talking with staff members and listening to their concerns about the vaccine – and the importance of knowing which voices they trust -- The questions about immunization for new admissions to a facility and in terms of staff turnover -- One of the options for facilities to sign up for immunization, even after the federal Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program ends

Hank Watson, Chief Development Officer, American Health Plans

Skilled Nursing News — Tue, 16 Feb 2021 22:18:44 +0000

Simply maintaining day-to-day operations at a nursing facility in 2020 was a herculean task, but several providers were able to also execute on the roll-out of an I-SNP, a special kind of Medicare Advantage plan for long-term care residents that proponents say provide both clinical and financial benefits to individual facilities. Hank Watson, chief development officer at American Health Plans, sat down with SNN to talk about the experience of launching new I-SNP ventures in 2020 and beyond, and why he — and his company's nursing home partners — still see promise in serving as both provider and payer. Listen to this episode to learn: 1. How COVID-19 changed the I-SNP calculus for providers 2. Why investing in clinical care is vital for I-SNP success 3. How operators can bridge the gap between value-based payments and fee-for-service 4. And more!

Tim Peck and Rob MacNaughton of Curve Health

Skilled Nursing News — Fri, 13 Nov 2020 19:10:29 +0000

Tim Peck and Rob MacNaughton of Curve Health by Skilled Nursing News

Tammy Tuminaro, CEO Century Rehabilitation Inc

Skilled Nursing News — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 15:18:00 +0000

Third-party rehabilitation providers are a crucial part of clinical care in the skilled nursing setting, and neither the pandemic this year nor an overhaul of Medicare reimbursement last year has changed that fact. But it has changed how rehab providers are working with their SNF partners. Tammy Tuminaro, the recently named CEO of Century Rehabilitation, joined Skilled Nursing News' Rethink podcast to talk about how third-party rehabilitation providers are navigating the pandemic and how Century sees the relationship between SNFs and third-party rehabilitation evolving. Listen to this episode to learn more about: -- The promises and pitfalls of telehealth for providing rehabilitation -- How SNFs and third-party rehab can collaborate more closely – and why they need to -- The importance of clinical pathways in getting residents to the best outcomes.

Dr. Rayvelle Stallings, SVP of PruittHealth Physician Services and CMO at PruittHealth

Skilled Nursing News — Fri, 07 Aug 2020 17:00:51 +0000

The institutional special needs plan model was one of the hottest topics of conversation in the skilled nursing world – of course, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. But for PruittHealth, its role as a Medicare Advantage provider gave it a unique position in its role as a skilled nursing provider, according to the operator's new corporate medical officer, Dr. Rayvelle Stallings. She believes that offering the I-SNP allows PruittHealth to ensure continuity of care in a way that helps navigate the new reality of the pandemic – while keeping residents and employees safe. Listen to this episode to learn: -Why the institutional needs plan model positions PruittHealth to provide the fullest continuity of care for its patients. -The promises and pitfalls of greater telehealth use, and why it's here to stay. -How infection control is shaping the new normal for PruittHealth's SNFs.

Susan Ryan of The Green House Project

Skilled Nursing News — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 20:06:32 +0000

After a disheartening experience working in nursing homes, former director of nursing Susan Ryan spent years spearheading initiatives designed to keep the elderly out of institutional care settings at all costs. But over time, she came to believe that there would always be a need for skilled nursing facilities to serve a specific portion of the aging population — just not the kind that have existed for decades. As the senior director of the non-profit Green House Project, Ryan has traveled the country spreading the gospel of nursing campuses centered around small homes, with resident independence and autonomy at the heart of the care model. It's an initiative that could gain steam as regulators, operators, and investors look to a post-COVID future. Listen to this podcast to learn: -- How operators can work with regulators to implement unique, resident-centered designs -- Why Green House can give operators a competitive advantage in their marketplaces -- And more!

Jon Ferry of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings

Skilled Nursing News — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 21:42:41 +0000

As nursing homes navigate COVID-19, the actions they take now could present legal minefields in the months and years to come. Those could stem from lawsuits brought by individuals – or by investigations from the state or federal government. Jon Ferry, a partner at the law firm Bradley Arant Boult Cummings and a former assistant U.S. attorney, joins Rethink to talk about some of the considerations for skilled nursing providers. Listen to this episode to learn: -The nuances of liability regulations in different states, especially those established for health care settings during COVID-19 -The ways the pandemic-induced changes might shape legal definitions and future lawsuits -What the Department of Justice’s National Nursing Home Initiative – announced just before COVID-19 hit in full force – will be investigating with the backdrop of the pandemic -And more!

Karen Hoffman, Clinical instructor, University of North Carolina School of Medicine

Skilled Nursing News — Thu, 25 Jun 2020 15:14:56 +0000

Until scientists develop a vaccine or effective treatment for COVID-19, infection control — already so vital to resident safety — must be at the top of every nursing home operator's list of priorities. For Karen Hoffman, that topic has been the subject of her career over the course of four decades. As a former CMS consultant, current clinical instructor at the University of North Carolina, and 2019 president of APIC, Hoffman has dedicated her professional life to improving infection control and preventing the spread of disease in nursing homes and other settings. She joined "Rethink" to discuss why COVID-19 can be so difficult to contain, how operators should reframe their mindsets to fight it as a chronic menace, and what CMS should do when evaluating its enforcement strategies. Listen to this episode to learn: -- Simple investments with major preventative payoffs -- Ways CMS can improve and enhance enforcement efforts moving forward -- Key areas for operators to focus on -- And more!

Dr. Paula Lester, NYU Winthrop Hospital

Skilled Nursing News — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 20:37:12 +0000

As COVID-19 initially swept through nursing homes across the country in March and April, operators and staffers had a key advantage: Just about every state implemented stay-at-home orders that kept public spaces clear for the essential health care workers, reducing the risk of infection. But as spring turns to summer, states around the country have implemented varying degrees of “reopening” plans, setting off increases in case counts — and underscoring the reality that the coronavirus will plague long-term care for an indefinite period of time. Dr. Paula Lester, a an associate professor of medicine at the NYU Long Island School of Medicine and a geriatrician at NYU Winthrop Hospital, joins "Rethink" to discuss the top lessons learned from the peak of COVID-19 cases in New York, one of the nation's worst geographic hotspots. Listen to this episode to learn: -- Why operators can't assume they're in the clear, even after performing baseline tests -- Top considerations for reopening safely -- What providers should seek from reform efforts -- And more!

LeadingAge President and CEO Katie Smith Sloan

Skilled Nursing News — Wed, 20 May 2020 20:07:22 +0000

LeadingAge CEO Katie Smith Sloan has been outspoken in her calls for increased government support for nursing homes and other senior care providers amid the COVID-19 crisis. As the case count continues to rise and operators face down a new normal with coronavirus at the center of every decision they make, Sloan has loudly and forcefully argued that the industry needs more funding and assistance. Sloan joined SNN's "Rethink" podcast to discuss the feasibility of a federal plan to reopen nursing homes to visitors, as well as the top changes she thinks providers should fight for as lawmakers and advocates start to consider new rules and regulations around nursing homes in a post-COVID world. Listen to this episode to learn: -- Why reopening nursing homes is "virtually impossible" right now -- Why Medicaid-focused relief has been so slow to arrive -- What steps leaders and lawmakers should take to prevent future crises -- And much more

Randy Oostra, President and CEO of ProMedica Health System

Skilled Nursing News — Thu, 23 Apr 2020 21:15:54 +0000

Randy Oostra, the president and CEO of ProMedica Health System, is well situated to see every angle of the unfolding COVID-19 pandemic in both the acute and pos-acute fields. The Toledo, Ohio-based ProMedica acquired the operations of HCR ManorCare in 2018 – which puts ProMedica in a unique position during a pandemic that is attacking every part of the health care continuum and hitting skilled nursing facilities particularly hard. Listen to this episode to learn: -Why more hospital beds are not the solution to the current strain on the health care system -Some of the ways the COVID-19 pandemic could change health care for the better -How ProMedica has worked to give the SNFs the clinical resources they need

The Royal Health Group

Skilled Nursing News — Wed, 22 Apr 2020 14:46:58 +0000

The Royal Health Group in Massachusetts had long-standing plans to change the location of its skilled nursing facility in the town of Falmuth; what they weren't expecting was that a global pandemic would hit as they planned the transition. Instead of freezing in place, the operator accelerated the move to give the Cape Cod Healthcare system a location for recovering COVID-19 patients. Royal Health CEO James Mamary and vice president of operations Robyn Sloniecki joined Rethink to talk about how they made the change and worked with the state and the health system – and about what other operators can learn from their experience. This episode was recorded on April 17th and reflects the COVID-19 situation at the time. Listen to this episode to learn: -How Royal Health kept its staff and residents updated during the move -How it worked with Massachusetts on fast-tracking its former facility to become a COVID-19 building. -What operators should think about as they find COVID-19 cases in their own SNFs

Dr. Richard Feifer, Chief Medical Officer of Genesis HealthCare

Skilled Nursing News — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 22:01:36 +0000

As the chief medical officer for skilled nursing giant Genesis HealthCare, Dr. Richard Feifer has a direct view into hundreds of individual nursing homes as they deal with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Dr. Feifer joined "Rethink" to make a direct appeal to leaders about the dire need for personal protective equipment (PPE) and access to COVID-19 testing, two vital weapons against the disease that have been far too hard to come by across the country. He also shared tips gleaned from his work on the front lines, while praising the tireless efforts of staffers on the ground. Listen to this episode to learn: 1. The top lessons Genesis and Feifer have learned throughout the crisis so far 2. How nursing homes can safely separate COVID-19 cases from those without the disease 3. Why operators shouldn't fear overreacting when it comes to infection-control protocols 4. And more!

Arif Nazir, Chief Medical Officer of Signature HealthCARE

Skilled Nursing News — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 19:02:40 +0000

As both the chief medical officer for Signature HealthCARE and president of AMDA, the Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine, Dr. Arif Nazir has a micro- and macro-level view on how skilled nursing facilities are fighting the novel coronavirus. Dr. Nazir sat down with SNN to talk about what he's seeing on the front lines, as well as the viability of some of the sweeping proposals that governments have floated to help beat back the COVID-19 tide. Listen to this episode of "Rethink" to learn: -- Why the COVID-19 pandemic will permanently change the post-acute and long-term care landscape — potentially for the better -- The roles geriatricians, nursing home operators, and other elder care experts need to play in the coronavirus response -- How frontline caregivers are weathering the storm -- And more!

Angie Roberson of American Case Management Association

Skilled Nursing News — Fri, 13 Mar 2020 15:55:12 +0000

The novel coronavirus outbreak has put skilled nursing facilities on lockdown and disrupted daily life around the world. But health care needs continue apace, and the junction between SNF and hospital is crucial. Angie Roberson, the president of the American Case Management Association and the director of case management at the Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System, joins Rethink to talk about the importance of communication in the face of COVID-19 and the steps hospitals are taking as they work with SNFs. Listen to this episode to learn: -More about how hospitals are looking at the outbreak and what they're hearing from SNFs -Why the flu season has lessons for dealing with the new virus -What hospitals are assessing as they get patients ready for discharge

Kelli Luneborg-Stern of Trifecta Public Strategies

Skilled Nursing News — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 17:36:00 +0000

In the senior housing and care spectrum, nursing homes typically have the worst reputation among the general public and the press — a negative image that can only worsen in cases of abuse, neglect, or high-profile accidents. As the managing partner and co-founder of Trifecta Public Strategies, Kelli Luneborg-Stern has guided skilled nursing operators through a variety of difficult times, and despite the challenges, she has nothing but praise for the industry. "They simply do not get the credit that they deserve for what they deal with on a day-to-day basis," Luneborg-Stern says. Listen to this episode to learn: -- How operators can more effectively communicate with the public and press -- The ways misconceptions about the industry have changed over time — and what remains the same -- Top challenges for operators in the year ahead -- ...and more!

John Delossantos, CEO of JMD Healthcare Solutions

Skilled Nursing News — Wed, 12 Feb 2020 20:31:26 +0000

As the CEO of JMD Healthcare Solutions, John Delossantos has had a front-row seat to the Medicare payment model change still roiling the skilled nursing space. So far, Delossantos is upbeat about PDPM's potential to improve the health of both residents and the industry as a whole, but he's also identified some key areas where operators are still making mistakes that could lead to costly reimbursement losses — or, worse, scrutiny from the federal government. Listen to this episode of Rethink to learn: 1. The most common PDPM errors operators are making — and how to fix them 2. The top regulatory red flags that could lead to payment clawbacks 3. The biggest PDPM surprises so far 4. ...and more

Fred Bentley, Managing Director at Avalere Health

Skilled Nursing News — Tue, 21 Jan 2020 21:13:59 +0000

The Patient-Driven Payment Model – and all the changes that came with it – arrived officially for skilled nursing providers in October 2019. The new Medicare reimbursement system for SNFs was top of mind throughout the year, but 2020 will bring a variety of new challenges, ranging from the entrenchment of accountable care organizations (ACOs) to the rise of managed care in the Medicaid program. Fred Bentley, managing director at the consulting firm Avalere Health, joined Rethink to talk about what SNFs should think about going into 2020 and how they can position themselves for viability and success. Listen to this episode to learn about: -The need to examine therapy and documentation as PDPM takes hold -Why some larger SNF chains are considering joining the ranks of ACOs -Why managed long-term supports and services in Medicaid is 'an existential challenge' for SNFs

Fred Stratmann JD, CHC, General Counsel at CommuniCare Health Services

Skilled Nursing News — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 20:51:17 +0000

The opioid crisis has hit every part of the U.S. health care system – skilled nursing facilities included. But the state and federal regulations haven’t moved as fast as the crisis, even though more and more providers are seeing these patients come through their doors. For the Communicare Family of Companies, which is based in Ohio and has 87 SNFs in some of the most opioid-affected states, there are ways that providers can help address the needs of patients struggling with addiction and other disorders. Fred Stratmann, Communicare’s general counsel, joined Rethink to talk about how SNFs could help and why the problem of caring for these patients goes back even further than the opioid epidemic. Listen to this episode to learn about: - Why nursing homes are filling the gaps in community resources - The regulatory hurdles to changing paradigms of care - The ways empty SNF beds could be repurposed for behavioral and substance use disorder treatment

CLA Managing Principal Cory Rutledge

Skilled Nursing News — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 16:46:51 +0000

For the first time in 34 years, an annual report on nursing home finances found that the median operating margin for operators fell below zero. For CLA managing principal Cory Rutledge, a co-author of the report, the result wasn't exactly surprising, given the headwinds battering the skilled nursing space over the past decade. But while he acknowledges that the number doesn't look great, Rutledge sees sunnier times ahead for operators in the space — specifically those that take bold action to adapt to a changing world. Listen to this episode of "Rethink" to learn: - Why the median margin fell below zero - How operators with positive margins pulled off their success - What operators should do to turn their fortunes around - ...and more!

Chris Bryson, CEO of Consulate Health Care

Skilled Nursing News — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 04:19:59 +0000

With 140 facilities, Consulate Health Care is something of an outlier in the skilled nursing world, and has seen its share of ups and downs related to its size. But after a strategic shrinking – and an overhaul to improve quality and care at the bedside – the operator is ready to grow again. CEO Chris Bryson has led the work in turning the company around. He joined Rethink to talk about how Consulate “doubled in size overnight” in 2012 and had to streamline in subsequent years, the work of improving care and retention, and why the operator is looking to the future. Listen to this episode to learn more about: -Why scale can still benefit skilled nursing facilities -The importance of maintaining local autonomy -Why regulators and providers need to collaborate for better care

René Lerer, CEO of Longevity Health Plan

Skilled Nursing News — Tue, 22 Oct 2019 17:31:02 +0000

Over the last few years, there's probably been no hotter topic in the skilled nursing space than I-SNPs — special Medicare Advantage plans that cover long-term residents of nursing homes and other institutional sites of care. As CEO of Longevity Health Plan, René Lerer has had a front-row seat to the expansion of these plans, which the company currently offers in Illinois and New York. Lerer joined "Rethink" to discuss trends in this specialized space, as well as how providers can launch their own plans — either on their own, or with strategic partners. Listen to this episode to learn: - How Longevity built its network, and how it plans to expand - The different ways providers can create or join an I-SNP - Why I-SNPs can open other opportunities beyond reimbursement control

VP at Henry Ford Health System Sue Craft

Skilled Nursing News — Fri, 27 Sep 2019 17:27:12 +0000

It's never been a more important time for skilled nursing facilities to get to know their hospital partners, especially as SNFs face penalties for patient readmissions and a constant battle to maintain census and provide the best quality of care. That makes open lines of communication and strong relationships essential for acute and post-acute care —and Sue Craft, the vice president of inpatient case management and post-acute care services at Henry Ford Health System is at the forefront of that work. She oversees the Detroit-based hospital system's preferred SNF network, as well as the team that makes decisions about patient discharges. Skilled Nursing News sat down with her to discuss the financial pressure that hospitals are facing, and how Henry Ford has changed its approach to post-acute partnerships over the years. Listen to this episode to learn: -Why Henry Ford focused on developing a preferred network to combat readmission struggles -The metrics SNFs should bring to hospitals in partnership discussions -What hospitals want from their post-acute partners

CMS Chief Medical Officer Kate Goodrich

Skilled Nursing News — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 19:16:17 +0000

As the Medicare program's top clinical official, Dr. Kate Goodrich has played a major role in the wave of nursing home regulatory scrutiny coming from Washington and Baltimore over the last few years. Goodrich and CMS administrator Seema Verma have placed skilled nursing facility compliance and oversight at the top of their to-do lists, with a litany of accomplishments already under their belts — from an overhaul of the five-star rating system to the public identification of properties under consideration for the Special Focus Facility program. SNN sat down with Goodrich to learn more about what's been driving this enforcement push, as well as what additional moves the federal government may have in store for the future. Listen to this episode to learn: -The inner workings of CMS's enforcement strategies for nursing homes -Why the agency is focusing on beefing up state-level survey efforts -Goodrich's vision for the long-term future of value-based care

Integrated Care Solutions CEO Brian Fuller

Skilled Nursing News — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 20:23:52 +0000

Skilled nursing providers can get chills at the thought of alternative payment models, which include Medicare arrangements such as bundled payments — one reimbursement shared by a range of providers for a single episode of care. After all, many bundled payment programs achieve their savings by cutting down on post-acute spending, adding pressure to already-squeezed skilled nursing facilities. But Brian Fuller, the CEO of Integrated Care Solutions, thinks SNFs shouldn't despair. ICS is a care coordination company and bundled payments convener under the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement — Advanced program, and Fuller sees both sides of the acute and post-acute world. He joined Rethink to talk about how SNFs need to change their mindset and get creative to thrive in a value-based world. Listen to this episode to learn: - The disconnects between acute and post-acute care, and what they need to learn to come together - Why post-acute is a savings target in alternative payment models, and how SNFs can take control of their own destiny within their market - The tenets SNFs need to adopt as their "true north" for success in the evolving world of value-focused health care

LTC Properties CEO Wendy Simpson

Skilled Nursing News — Thu, 08 Aug 2019 19:20:08 +0000

Publicly traded health care REITs have been blamed for some of the skilled nursing industry's woes in recent years — after all, how can a provider keep up with annual escalators as it navigates an uncertain reimbursement landscape and ever-rising staffing costs? But Wendy Simpson, president and CEO of LTC Properties, Inc., says REITs aren't the ones to blame — and that operators should instead make sure that any lease arrangement leaves enough money to put back into their operations before signing on the dotted line. Listen to this episode of Rethink to learn: - Why Simpson remains frustrated with the ongoing bankruptcy of tenant Senior Care Centers - How a dearth of younger, newer operating teams could cause trouble for the industry down the road - Why REITs still make sense for operators looking to unlock the equity in their assets - ...and more!

President and CEO of the American Health Care Association Mark Parkinson

Skilled Nursing News — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 14:52:32 +0000

Between the release of a "secret" list of underperforming nursing homes and multiple hearings on Capitol Hill, the skilled nursing industry has found itself under the regulatory and media microscope for most of 2019. And for the most part, Mark Parkinson thinks that's a good thing. The president and CEO of the American Health Care Association sat down with Skilled Nursing News to discuss why transparency could ultimately help operators by raising awareness of other issues in the space — along with his vision of what the industry will look like a decade from now. Listen to this episode to learn: - Why operators should see opportunity in recent media attention on the industry - What he thinks is the bigger challenge for the space: PDPM or Medicaid - How SNFs can avoid becoming a mere commodity in the overall care landscape - ...and more!

Care Providers Oklahoma President & CEO Nico Gomez

Skilled Nursing News — Mon, 01 Jul 2019 16:26:48 +0000

Care Providers Oklahoma President & CEO Nico Gomez by Skilled Nursing News

Altenheim Senior Living CEO Paul Psota

Skilled Nursing News — Fri, 14 Jun 2019 17:19:26 +0000

The challenges of government reimbursement and shifting consumer demand have hit non-profits in the skilled nursing space particularly hard. Many of them have exited the business entirely, with independent non-profits and local governments moving to cut their losses and sell. Non-profit continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) have also shied away from the sector, with some companies exploring CCRC-like models without any skilled nursing at all. But Altenheim Senior Living, a CCRC in Strongsville, Ohio, has no plans to eliminate its skilled nursing presence. The non-profit has 170 skilled nursing beds, and got its start more than 100 years ago as a nursing home. That said, it has moved to diversify its offerings in the face of increasing reimbursement pressures. In this episode of Rethink, Altenheim CEO Paul Psota discussed the company’s evolution in the changing skilled nursing world, as well as the role of skilled nursing in senior living. Listen to this episode to hear: -How Altenheim began evolve beyond skilled nursing, starting with assisted living -Why it decided to purchase an outpatient therapy provider -How SNFs can benefit from short-term rehab amid the push to lower-cost settings

Greystone Founder and CEO Stephen Rosenberg

Skilled Nursing News — Mon, 03 Jun 2019 19:05:58 +0000

Stephen Rosenberg founded Greystone 30 years ago with the modest goal of forming his own consulting shop after an executive stint at Dean Witter Reynolds. But over time, Rosenberg and Greystone built a name for themselves in the health care and multifamily housing lending space, growing to encompass a portfolio of $34 billion — with a major stake in the government-backed financing of skilled nursing facilities. Listen to this episode of Rethink to hear Rosenberg discuss: - Why investors are increasingly coming around to the idea of skilled nursing facilities as long-term winners - How the Greystone team evaluates deals - What types of skilled nursing properties are increasingly hitting the market - And more!

Founder and CEO of sb2 Inc. Chad Bogar

Skilled Nursing News — Thu, 16 May 2019 15:53:07 +0000

Amid the revolution sweeping Medicare reimbursements for skilled nursing facilities — from PDPM to value-based purchasing — Medicaid has quietly emerged as a prime threat to operators across the country. Reimbursement rates in multiple states don't cover the daily cost of caring for Medicaid residents, forcing buildings to close or endure disruptive receiverships across the country. As the CEO and founder of law firm sb2 Inc., Chad Bogar has dedicated his career to helping residents and operators solve their Medicaid problems through the courts and other mechanisms designed to protect them. Listen to this episode of Rethink to learn: 1. How providers can apply Medicaid victories won in other states to their operators 2. Why federal law trumps state regulations on Medicaid rates 3. How Bogar and operators in fought the government over long-delayed Medicaid claims 4. And more strategies for Medicaid success

OnPointe CEO Eric Tanner

Skilled Nursing News — Tue, 30 Apr 2019 17:29:38 +0000

Skilled nursing provider OnPointe and its CEO, Eric Tanner, are all in on care coordination, with a specific focus on determining what hospitals want to hear when looking for preferred post-acute partners. Despite a recent setback with landlord MedEquities, Tanner remains upbeat about OnPointe's position in the marketplace, focusing on the ways his company's buildings can solve local hospitals' costliest problems — and in turn become their top choice for referrals as he builds a post-acute company that includes SNFs, home health, and hospice services. Listen to the latest episode of Rethink to discover: - How SNFs can learn to speak hospitals' language - Ways providers can innovate despite tight budgets - The future of the short-term rehabilitation model - ...And much more!

Plante Moran Partner Betsy Rust

Skilled Nursing News — Fri, 05 Apr 2019 16:57:34 +0000

Earlier this year, Betsy Rust and Plante Moran released a report with a fairly explosive thesis: Margins for skilled nursing facilities had actually been on the rise between 2016 and 2017. But the senior care advisory firm was quick to point out that the report only considered Medicare reimbursements — with Medicare Advantage and Medicaid strains working to wipe out the Medicare fee-for-service gains. SNN invited Rust to expand on her findings on the latest episode of "Rethink: The Future of Skilled Nursing." In our conversation, Rust offered concrete tips for how providers can navigate the Medicare Advantage world despite a lack of public information on rates, as well as how the ongoing stressors in the SNF marketplace could inspire operators to make strange — but profitable — bedfellows. Listen to this episode of Rethink to learn: - The metrics Plante Moran evaluates when advising buyers in today's market - How partnering with competitors might bring mutual benefits - The outlook for Medicare Advantage under PDPM - ...And much more!

Aegis Therapies President and CEO Martha Schram

Skilled Nursing News — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 16:21:10 +0000

By making patient condition and characteristics the driver of reimbursement, over the number of therapy minutes provided to a patient, the Patient-Driven Payment Model coming in October has changed the game for rehabilitation and skilled nursing providers alike. And Aegis Therapies, which is based in Frisco, Texas and provides third-party rehabilitation to more than 500 nursing homes and senior care facilities, has to prove its value to the skilled nursing facilities where it offers services. Aegis President and CEO Martha Schram thinks there’s opportunity in the new system, even though it will come with new challenges for third-party rehab. In her conversation with Rethink, Schram talked about the need for new conversations between rehab providers and SNFs, and how rehab has to take outcomes into consideration as the industry prepares for PDPM. Download the episode to learn about: - How third-party rehab has evolved in skilled nursing - Why skilled nursing could get value from the infrastructure of a rehab provider - The need for third-party rehab to go beyond therapy delivery under PDPM

Genesis Healthcare CEO George Hager

Skilled Nursing News — Thu, 14 Feb 2019 17:19:44 +0000

Based on the last few years, Genesis Healthcare should be on the ropes — significant quarterly losses, lease restructurings, and public criticism from one of its primary landlords have weighed on the skilled nursing giant. But the Kennett Square, Pa.-based operator closed out 2018 with cautious optimism, both from financial analysis firm Stifel and CEO George Hager, who predicts smoother sailing ahead in 2019. In his conversation with Rethink, Hager firmly pushed back on current industry wisdom that bigger isn’t necessarily better in skilled nursing, and laid out his vision for what the industry will look like under the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM). Download this episode to hear Hager discuss: -Why Genesis’s scale — around 400 buildings across 29 states — is actually an asset, and not a liability -How Genesis keeps the pulse of local markets despite its size -What PDPM will mean for third-party rehabilitation providers and skilled nursing operators alike

Anne Tumlinson Innovations CEO Anne Tumlinson

Skilled Nursing News — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 20:22:04 +0000

From the federal government to Avalere Health to the advisory firm that bears her name, Anne Tumlinson has been a leading voice on the business of long-term health care in the United States. As CEO of Anne Tumlinson Innovations, she hears from providers around the country, who tell her about their struggles and successes with new payment models — including managed Medicare and accountable care organizations. In our conversation, Tumlinson said she’s no longer comfortable telling providers that all they need to survive in the new landscape is a solid set of data proving good outcomes. The reality is much more complicated than that, and success could require operators to band together to negotiate the best rates moving forward. Download this episode of Rethink to hear: - Why providers partnering with their competitors might be the path to success in some markets - Why consumers choose Medicare Advantage plans, and why seniors may not always understand what that decision might mean for nursing home coverage - How operators can navigate the dual — and dueling — worlds of fee-for-service Medicare and new payment models

Sabra Health Care REIT CEO Rick Matros

Skilled Nursing News — Thu, 20 Dec 2018 16:52:32 +0000

Rick Matros has made a name for himself as one of the most outspoken leaders in the long-term health care space, offering blunt assessments of certain operators’ business models and the future of the skilled nursing industry at large. Listen to our interview with Matros and hear: -- How Sabra plans to grow in the years ahead after adding CCP’s assets and shedding Genesis’s properties -- Matros’s take on the Welltower-ProMedica deal, as well as the potential for similar collaborations between post-acute operators and hospital providers -- What role REITs will play in skilled nursing investment in the years to come