Money moves
CMS Releases Updated SNF Market Basket Index at 3.6%
The revised market basket forecast for FY2027 came in at 3.6%, slightly above October's preliminary 3.4% estimate, reflecting persistent wage inflation in healthcare labor.
Policy watch
CMS Extends Comment Period on Staffing Mandate to February 28
Responding to industry pressure, CMS extended the public comment period on the final staffing rule by 45 days, with over 46,000 comments already submitted.
Heads up
Illinois Issues Emergency Rule Tightening Facility Closure Notice to 120 Days
Illinois enacted an emergency rule requiring SNFs to give residents, families, and the state 120 days' notice before closure, up from the previous 90-day requirement.
Operations
National SNF Length of Stay Drops to 23.4 Days, a New Low
Medicare beneficiary average length of stay in SNFs hit 23.4 days in Q3 2025, down from 25.1 days a year ago, as MA plans push shorter stays.
The bottom line
The market basket is ticking up but length of stay keeps shrinking, a tension that defines the current SNF margin environment.