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 […]

The burden of sepsis is high in the U.S., with over 1.7 million adult cases resulting in 350,000 deaths reported annually. Patients who survive sepsis often suffer long-term physical, psychological, and cognitive disabilities. A leading cause of unplanned 30-day hospital readmissions, experts believe as many as 80% of sepsis deaths could be prevented with early […]

As CMS continues to enforce surveyor guidance, infection control deficiencies remain among the top three citations issued in post-acute care. Maintaining solid Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and Antibiotic Stewardship programs must stay a top priority in the treatment of our post-acute care population. According to the CDC, antibiotics are still the most frequently prescribed […]

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 […]

As CMS aims to have all Medicare beneficiaries and most Medicaid beneficiaries enrolled in a value-based care program by 2030, it is imperative for nursing facilities to begin developing innovative strategies to adopt value-based care initiatives that will improve facility performance, occupancy, and revenues. During this presentation, experts will discuss the various types of value-based […]