NIC Notes

Insights in Seniors Housing & Care

Economic Trends  |  Regulatory Environment  |  Skilled Nursing

ACA Repeal and the Impact on Long-Term Care

By: Liz Liberman  |  January 27, 2017

Shortly after the U.S. presidential election, the Senate and House began the formal process of repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Then, within hours of his inauguration, President Donald Trump signed an executive order instructing all federal agencies "to minimize the unwarranted economic and regulatory burdens of the Act, and prepare to afford the States more flexibility and control to create a more free and open healthcare market." Just as the ACA acted as a major reform of the health care payment and delivery system, repealing the ACA will also have a major impact on health care providers, consumers, and the companies in between, such as pharmaceutical manufacturers and, of course, insurance companies. But how will the repeal of the ACA directly affect providers in the seniors housing and care space?

Economic Trends  |  Regulatory Environment  |  Senior Housing  |  Skilled Nursing

Major Regulatory Headlines for Senior Living to Watch in 2017

By: Liz Liberman  |  January 04, 2017

From a regulatory perspective, 2016 was certainly a busy year in seniors housing and care. From new bundled payment models to revised participation requirements, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) rolled out new guidance and rules at a rapid pace. With a new administration and a new leader at the helm of Health and Human Services (HHS, the agency under which CMS operates), 2017 could turn out as interesting as 2016. Here are the regulatory areas I'll be keeping my eye on in the next year.

Economic Trends  |  Regulatory Environment  |  Skilled Nursing  |  Workforce

GAO Investigation Reveals Margins Highest among For-Profits, Chains

By: Liz Liberman  |  November 02, 2016

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) concluded an investigation into data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on nursing homes, staffing practices, and financial performance by recommending that CMS make such data more easily accessible by the public and ensure the data’s validity. In the course of the investigation, the GAO revealed insights about margins and operations relative to the skilled nursing properties’ organization types. The agency’s report underscores the need for more and better financial skilled nursing data in the industry.

Economic Trends  |  Regulatory Environment

CMS’ Drive for Innovation Has Operators Paying Attention

By: Liz Liberman  |  October 26, 2016

The push toward value-based purchasing by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) means significant changes for operators, said Ray Thivierge, a well-known and respected skilled nursing industry leader. He moderated “The Ever-Changing World of Skilled Nursing: The Impact of CMS Initiatives,” a session at the 2016 NIC Fall Conference in September. The session’s panelists were: Trissie Copses Farr, senior vice president, Formation Capital Healthcare Group, LLC; Jason Feuerman, SVP, Strategic Development & Managed Care, Genesis HealthCare, Inc.; Dr. David Gifford, Senior Vice President, Quality and Regulatory Affairs, American Health Care Association; and Nanci Wilson, vice president, R&D, Plum HealthCare Group, LLC.

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