The challenges most front and center on seniors housing providers minds are actual and proposed cuts in Medicaid reimbursement and figuring out what impact the adjustments under Medicare’s new Resource Utilization Groups-IV (RUGS-IV) and Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 system will have. The Great Recession may officially be over, but aftershocks are being felt at all levels of government, notably in states where pre-recession revenue is not likely to return for some time.

State Medicaid plans across the country are laying the groundwork for introducing managed care into their long term care programs, spurred by federal initiatives to integrate care and funding for the segment of enrollees known as “dual eligibles.” These beneficiaries, who qualify for both Medicaid and Medicare benefits, have become a focal point for savings and other policy reforms due to their high costs and complex medical needs.