Money moves
Holiday Staffing Premiums Cost SNFs an Estimated $180M This Week
Industry analysts estimate SNFs will spend $180M in holiday premium pay and overtime between December 24 and January 1, a 14% increase from last year's holiday period.
On the radar
CMS Holiday Freeze Means No New Survey Citations Until January 2
CMS confirmed its annual holiday survey pause, with no new standard surveys scheduled between December 24 and January 2, though complaint investigations remain active.
Heads up
Holiday Visitor Surge Raises Infection Control Concerns at 9,000+ Facilities
State health departments issued advisories urging SNFs to enforce visitor screening protocols during the holiday period, after early reports of respiratory illness spikes at 120 facilities.
Operations
Christmas Day Census Data Shows 12% Spike in Family Discharge Requests
Preliminary data indicates family-requested discharges on Christmas Day run 12% higher than average, creating bed management challenges and readmission risks for the following week.
The bottom line
The holiday season is expensive for operators, surveys are paused, and managing visitor traffic and discharge requests is the operational challenge of the week.