New quarterly data from NIC show occupancy rates at SNFs down to a new record low of 81.7 percent in the second quarter of 2018.

Even though margins are extremely tight and occupancy levels below optimal for many operators in the skilled nursing sector of the LT/PAC profession, financing programs and capital markets catering to the broader LT/PAC and seniors housing market are robust.

Association says SNFs should be able to benefit from 2018 tax cuts.

The nursing department typically consumes the largest percentage of a facility’s budget, and therefore the director of nursing services (DNS) plays a key role in determining the resources necessary to achieving quality resident care outcomes.

Amid growing concerns that interest rates are on an upward trajectory, a leading voice in the seniors housing funding space says skilled nursing and assisted living providers should be aware of the many benefits of the HUD Section 232 program.

A major driver of the faster rate of spending will be shifts in enrollment from private health insurance to Medicare caused by the aging baby boomers reaching Medicare eligibility.

Large and small owner/operators see diversification as a pathway to boost revenue and a means for survival amid increased reimbursement uncertainty, tight margins, and persistent concerns over occupancy rates.

When assessing the current state of the capital and finance markets for the long term and post-acute care (LT/PAC) sector, leading players in the space continue to see solid returns for well-performing operators selling their businesses and ready access to loans for those owners looking to expand or remodel their existing physical plant.