Judith Waltz Comments on New CMS Rule Affecting Skilled Nursing Facilities

Foley & Lardner LLP partner Judith Waltz is quoted in the article, “Final CMS Rule Requires SNFs to Reveal PE, REIT Owners; What’s the ‘End Game’?” in the Report on Medicare Compliance, published by the Health Care Compliance Association.

Waltz, who is co-chair of Foley’s Health Care Practice Group, commented on a new rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that will reveal the ownership of a skilled nursing facility (SNF) if it is owned by a private equity company or real estate investment trust.

Waltz said if this attention dissuades these entities from investing or participating in SNF care, “that’s not necessarily a good thing.”

“CMS is still expanding its authorities to use enrollment as a key enforcement mechanism—a sort of vote-them-off-the-island approach in addition to the longstanding survey and certification tools,” she added.