According to a 2022 JAMA Network study, 1 in 5 Medicare beneficiaries discharged from the hospital receive post-acute care in a skilled nursing facility (SNF) at a cost of more than $28 billion annually. Nearly one-quarter of those admitted to SNFs are readmitted to the hospital within 30 days. With CMS seeking to improve patient […]

The Minimum Data Set (MDS) was created by CMS as a powerful tool for employing comprehensive evaluations and facilitating care management of Medicare-certified Skilled Nursing Facilities. With implications that affect patients, families, providers, and policymakers, recent updates to the MDS are designed to improve the reliability, accuracy, and effectiveness of the formulation and implementation of […]

In today’s healthcare landscape, focus on achieving value-based care (VBC) outcomes has never been more critical. For Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) and Payers, an important key to success in meeting VBC goals is to prioritize the development of robust Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) networks. However, creating a network that merely exists isn't enough—ineffective networks lacking […]

Operating in a highly regulated environment, Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) operators feel the weight of meeting compliance standards and requirements set forth by CMS daily. But what exactly does it mean to “be compliant?” It’s much broader than just following standards laid out by regulators – it’s also adherence to an organization’s internal protocols, clinical […]