Five big trends affecting all skilled nursing facilities

Skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) in the United States continue to face daunting challenges. The average SNF is only able to break even, reflecting increased competition, upward wage pressure in a tight labor market, and the prevalence of low-paying Medicaid patients. In many regions, operating margins are negative, suggesting that more facilities will soon be forced to close or raise rates.

These are some of the main findings in our third annual “Make the Mark” benchmarking report that allows around 15,000 Medicare-certified SNFs to benchmark their key operating, revenue, and expense metrics. This year’s report is our most robust yet, benefiting from a richer data set that enables it to form a more detailed profile of SNF facilities across the country.