McKnight's Podcast

McKnights

Conversations with industry newsmakers in the Homecare, Long Term Care, and Senior Living market.

  1. MS should channel funds saved from fraud back into home care, Stabenow, Totaro argue

    2D AGO

    MS should channel funds saved from fraud back into home care, Stabenow, Totaro argue

    Recently retired Sen. Debbie Stabenow, and Dave Totaro, former BAYADA chief government affairs officer, are excited to bring their healthcare expertise and talents to the bipartisan Liberty Partners Group. Reimbursement challenges for the field are nothing new, they said. What keeps Totaro up at night is the dwindling number of home health agencies. There are 10% fewer agencies today than in 2013, he said. Stabenow is pleased with the progress that took place last year with the 2026 home health final rule, which marked the end of permanent adjustments. Now Liberty Partners is working with the administration to help restore home health funding to 2020 levels when the Patient-Driven Groupings Model began. It also is urging the administration to use verifiable data to fight fraud in home health and hospice. Given the harsh Medicaid cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, 2026 and 2027 promise to be some of the toughest years financially for the field, Totaro said. He also expects home health to experience cuts for 2027 and does not think any major home care legislation will pass before the midterms. Follow us on social media: X: @McKHomeCare Facebook: McKnight's Home Care LinkedIn: McKnight's Home Care Instagram: mcknights_homecare Show contributors:McKnight’s Home Care Editor Liza Berger; Debbie Stabenow, senior policy adviser at Liberty Partners Group; and Dave Totaro, principal at Liberty Partners Group Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    22 min
  2. From reporting to results: Rethinking MIPS in senior care

    APR 13 ·  BONUS

    From reporting to results: Rethinking MIPS in senior care

    The Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) has become a high-stakes mandate that could determine the financial survival of modern practices and the physicians who care for long-term care residents. While the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services quality program has existed for years, a "perfect storm" of increasing penalties and a national push toward value-based care is forcing post-acute providers to better support active clinical participation — and to form more meaningful partnerships between SNF operators, PAC physician practices and value-based care model entities such as ISNPs, hospital-based ACOs and PAC-centric ACOs. "There's this sort of perfect storm of confusion happening between different CMS programs that a patient may be attributed to... that the practice now has to keep track of somehow," says Steve Buslovich, chief medical officer for senior care at PointClickCare. In the latest episode of the Market Leaders podcast, McKnight’s Long-Term Care New Senior Editor Kimberly Marselas sits down with Buslovich and Tom Haithcoat, vice president of government affairs with Care Connect MD and president of Ceptor Consulting. Together, they decode how MIPS is influencing care — and coordination — at the bedside, as well as the friction between traditional primary care metrics and the unique realities of the geriatric population. They also explore why stronger alignment and collaboration across SNFs, physician groups and value-based entities is becoming essential to succeed under evolving CMS models. Penalties for non-compliance or poor reporting can now slash Medicare reimbursement by up to 9%, often representing the difference between a practice being "in the black or in the red,” Buslovich says. But often, Haithcoat adds, failure to capture care may be a reflection of missing or misaligned technology rather than lapses in patient treatments. Listen in to learn why practitioners often struggle to capture quality measures across fragmented systems, and how the MIPS measures themselves may be a mismatch for today’s skilled nursing and senior living residents. If you need a full breakdown on helping reduce the burden for your community’s physicians and clinicians as they navigate MIPS pathways, this is the episode for you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    26 min
  3. Live from New York! Insights from senior living and care industry experts

    APR 3

    Live from New York! Insights from senior living and care industry experts

    ​In this Newsmaker’s podcast, McKnight’s editors bring you highlights of the 2026 McKnight’s Pinnacle Awards​ + Summit​ in New York City — as well as thought leadership from senior living and care experts, recorded live at the event. Learn: The single most important thing you can do to transform your workforce strategy immediately. What providers need to do to make senior living and care more attractive to prospective employees. The small steps you can take to increase happiness, positivity and gratefulness in your personal and professional lives. What successful operators should be focused on. The importance of actionable data for operators, investors and lenders. More about the biggest challenges facing the profession — and solutions to those challenges — as well as predictions for the future of long-term care. ​​Listen now to gain insights from: Lifetime Achievement Award winner Mary Ousley, President of Ousley & Associates and Chief Strategy Officer, PruittHealth Keynote speaker Scott White, chairman of Invesque and author of “The Life is Too Short Guy” Thought Leader Award winner Scott McQuinn, President and CEO, Life Enriching Communities Industry Ally Award winner Kurt Read, Managing Director and Partner/Board Member, RSF Partners/NIC Marketplace Influencer Award winner Lisa Thomson, COO, Pathway Health Pinnacle Summit Panelist Matt Durgin, VP of Marketing, Smartlinx Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    27 min
  4. Don't wait for the red flag: How to spot and stop 'operational drift' in senior care

    MAR 30 ·  BONUS

    Don't wait for the red flag: How to spot and stop 'operational drift' in senior care

    Financial distress in senior care rarely happens overnight. Subtle breakdowns in cash conversion, labor alignment, and sales momentum often appear long before a census decline makes the crisis visible. Yet, many owners and lenders remain focused on occupancy rather than the execution metrics that actually drive it. In the latest episode of the McKnight’s Market Leaders podcast, Executive Editor Jim Berklan sits down with experts from Everest Management Solutions to discuss "operational drift" — a quiet threat that can devastate a facility if left unchecked. Joining the conversation are Elizabeth Thornton, chief operating officer, and Tiffany Flynn, vice president for senior living sales and operations. Together, they pull back the layers on why a stable census can sometimes mask deep-seated structural issues. The discussion highlights three critical areas for operators to monitor: -Quality over quantity: A high census is meaningless if it consists of "bad" revenue, such as unoptimized rates or significant collection issues. -The churn trap: In senior living, net move-ins and length of stay are more predictive than raw occupancy, which often hides a high-turnover "revolving door" of residents. -Leadership and systems: Stabilization is only realistic if leadership is held accountable and provided with the systemic tools — not just cost-cutting mandates — to succeed. As the experts note, waiting for a formal survey deficiency or a financial crash is often waiting too long. Success requires a holistic, interdisciplinary look at daily operations to ensure quality outcomes match the revenue goals. "Operational drift doesn't announce itself. It shows up quietly," Flynn warns. "It shows up in the metrics. It shows up in the way the staff is responding ... It’s not like a big red flag goes up that says it’s time to get help." Listen to the full podcast episode to learn how to build a practical framework for stabilizing performance and protecting your asset value before the drift becomes a downfall. Note: This recap was assisted by Gemini, which used artificial intelligence to help capture key points. It has been reviewed by an editor for accuracy. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    24 min
  5. CEO Flournoy is on mission to expand hospital-at-home to Medicaid beneficiaries

    MAR 26

    CEO Flournoy is on mission to expand hospital-at-home to Medicaid beneficiaries

    Flournoy Health Systems, which evolved from Primecare Home Care Services, grew out of his mother’s living room in Milledgeville, GA, in 2007. Today, the family-owned private business offers Medicaid personal care, hospice and pediatric services, along with Structured Family Caregiving training and assistance. Faris Flournoy, an Air Force veteran, wants to prove to hospitals that home care can provide hospitals reliable support to operate hospital-at-home for Medicaid beneficiaries. It starts with understanding hospitals’ pain points such as readmissions, he said. Then it is proving to hospitals through data that home care can produce healthy outcomes. Offering hospital-at-home care for underserved Medicaid beneficiaries will lead to a transformation in the home care industry, he said. Follow us on social media: X: @McKHomeCare Facebook: McKnight's Home Care LinkedIn: McKnight's Home Care Instagram: mcknights_homecare   Follow Flournoy Health Systems on social media: Facebook: Flournoy Health Systems LinkedIn: Flournoy Health Systems Show contributors: McKnight’s Home Care Editor Liza Berger; Faris Flournoy, CEO of Flournoy Health Systems Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    21 min
  6. Shared leadership, succession planning and the evolving landscape of affordable and middle-market senior living

    MAR 19

    Shared leadership, succession planning and the evolving landscape of affordable and middle-market senior living

    In this episode, McKnight’s Senior Living Editor Lois Bowers sits down with Amy Schectman, outgoing CEO of 2Life Communities, and Lizbeth Heyer, the current president who will succeed her as CEO. They discuss Schectman’s 15-year tenure and upcoming retirement with the organization, the shared leadership model Schectman and Heyer have used for the past two years, advice on succession planning and leadership in senior living, and the evolving landscape of affordable and middle-market senior living. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    31 min
  7. Kendal at Home CEO Giacobbe looks back on nearly 23 years at helm

    MAR 12

    Kendal at Home CEO Giacobbe looks back on nearly 23 years at helm

    Kendal at Home was one of the first “CCRC with no walls” programs of its kind. Now there are about 40 programs like it, Giacobbe said. The model is designed to serve the older adult who wants the connection and assurances of a retirement community but is adamant about staying at home. A key staff role is the care coordinator who serves as a liaison between the family of the client and the CCRC, and also manages the client’s care and treatment.  The program is similar to hospice except that while hospice aims for a person to die with dignity, Kendal at Home wants the member to live with dignity, Giacobbe said. Some members have been in the program since its inception. Over the years, technology, which can monitor health conditions, has helped members stay independent and connected. Kendal at Home has grown up with Medicare Advantage, which offers supplemental benefits such as home care. Healthcare in general today is focused on preventing falls and keeping people cognitively sharp, Giacobbe said. She is proudest of being part of something unique in the long-term care space and watching it flourish. She has also enjoyed partnering with LeadingAge, a big supporter of CCRCs, and serving members faithfully for so many years. Follow us on social media: X: @McKHomeCare Facebook: McKnight's Home Care LinkedIn: McKnight's Home Care Instagram: mcknights_homecare Follow Kendal at Home on social media: X: @KendalatHome Facebook: Kendal at Home LinkedIn: Kendal at Home Show contributors:McKnight’s Home Care Editor Liza Berger; Lynne Giacobbe, CEO, Kendal at Home Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    21 min
  8. 6 questions to take your EHR data from the Blockbuster era to Netflix relevance

    FEB 26 ·  BONUS

    6 questions to take your EHR data from the Blockbuster era to Netflix relevance

    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    30 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Conversations with industry newsmakers in the Homecare, Long Term Care, and Senior Living market.

Information

  • Creator
    McKnights
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    348
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    McKnight's Podcast

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