Money moves
Louisiana Medicaid Approves Emergency 6.2% SNF Rate Increase
Louisiana's Medicaid agency approved an emergency 6.2% rate increase for SNFs effective February 1, citing facility closures that reduced bed supply by 4,200 in the past two years.
Legislation
Bipartisan MA Reform Bill Would Require Real-Time SNF Auth Decisions
Senators Baldwin and Collins introduced the SNF Access Protection Act, requiring MA plans to make SNF admission authorization decisions within 12 hours of request.
Heads up
Norovirus Outbreaks Reported in 145 SNFs Across 18 States
CDC tracking data shows active norovirus outbreaks in 145 SNFs across 18 states as of January 8, with the Southeast and Midwest experiencing the highest concentration.
Operations
Average SNF Per-Bed Construction Cost Hits $285K in 2025
Cushman & Wakefield data shows new SNF construction costs averaged $285,000 per bed in 2025, up 12% from 2024, making acquisitions increasingly attractive over new builds.
The bottom line
Louisiana is throwing emergency rate money at its closure crisis, MA auth timelines could shrink to 12 hours, and building new beds has never been more expensive.