NIC Notes

Insights in Seniors Housing & Care

Economic Trends  |  Regulatory Environment  |  Skilled Nursing

2017: The Year of Deregulation for the Skilled Nursing Industry

By: Liz Liberman  |  January 10, 2018

On Christmas Eve, the New York Times published an article describing measures the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) took during 2017 to reduce fines levied against skilled nursing properties. The skilled nursing industry may view this change as a welcome respite from real or perceived government over-regulation, especially in an era of downward pressure on occupancy and constrained budgets. Nursing home resident advocates, on the other hand, may view this move as an affront to resident safety. Deregulation remains a top priority for President Trump, and therefore efforts to reduce penalties for nursing homes should not come as a surprise.

Market Trends  |  Regulatory Environment  |  Skilled Nursing

NIH-Funded Study Raises Questions about Accuracy of Five-Star Quality Ratings

By: Liz Liberman  |  January 04, 2018

A recent study conducted with financial support from the National Institute for Health Care Management, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and published in the journal Production and Operations Management found that California nursing homes may be artificially inflating their self-reported data to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) for the five-star rating system on Nursing Home Compare, a website used by consumers, payors, and others to evaluate nursing homes. The five-star rating, discussed at length in a previous NIC blog post, is comprised of a health inspection, staffing levels, and quality metrics. The authors of the study argue that many California nursing homes inflate their self-reported quality metrics, which measure the quality of care patients and residents receive in skilled nursing properties. Their analysis considers the financial incentives that drive such false reporting, providing one of the first analyses of how five-star scores impact profitability. The study demonstrates the need for operators and investors to consider multiple data sources and follow quality metrics closely.

Economic Trends  |  Senior Housing  |  Skilled Nursing  |  Workforce

How Could Advances in Alzheimer’s Research and Funding Potentially Impact the Demand for Services?

By: Liz Liberman  |  November 29, 2017

Though a cure for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias remains elusive, progress is being made to slow the course of the disease and better treat its symptoms. These advances have the potential to affect the future demand for memory care services and facilities.

Ideas and Discussion  |  Skilled Nursing  |  Workforce

Investments in Operations Hold Promise for Seniors Housing and Care

By: Liz Liberman  |  November 01, 2017

The 2017 NIC Fall Conference featured valuable programming content for stakeholders in the seniors housing and care industry. Throughout the conference, key themes emerged both on and off the stage. A frequent topic of discussion was the evolution of the skilled nursing industry, and more notably, the importance of efficient operations for success. Not only do operators require efficiency, but they also must be nimble and empowered to adapt to their unique markets while using data to influence decision-making and partnerships.

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