Investing in Staffing Doesn’t Necessarily Lead to Skilled Nursing Profits

When it comes to staffing, skilled nursing providers may be caught between a rock and a hard place.

Regulators have cracked down on the industry over staffing levels, hitting several facilities with one-star staffing ratings in 2018 after payroll-based journal data showed fluctuating workforce numbers. But a data dive by accounting firm CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA) found that investing in staffing star ratings may not actually correlate with profitability.

To improve their overall financial standing, SNFs would do better focusing on their survey and quality ratings under the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) five-star system, according to a webinar hosted by CLA health care principals Cory Rutledge and Matt Wocken.