The third meeting of the legislatively mandated Nursing Facility Task Force was held Friday, November 22nd, and focused on the Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA) Nursing Facility Industry Report covering the period 2013-2017. The report includes key findings, one of which validates that the nursing facility sector is experiencing an ongoing financial crisis, as it documents that across nursing facilities, the median operating margin declined from -0.8% in 2013 to -3.9% in 2017.
As we have been reporting to the membership, this report is part of CHIA’s Cost Report Modernization initiative which includes a public reporting component of baseline data in regard to utilization, revenue, and financial and quality performance, similar to the current profiles the agency provides for the hospital sector.
Chaired by EOHHS Secretary Marylou Sudders, the Task Force is charged with making recommendations to ensure the sustainability of the nursing facility sector, including (1) improvements to the MassHealth reimbursement system for skilled nursing facilities to promote financial stability and (2) industry-wide workforce initiatives to ensure a sustainable workforce.
The Task Force is required to submit its report to the legislature, including any proposed legislation necessary to carry out its recommendations, not later than February 1, 2020.