PPS SNF Survey Part 2: SNFs Frustrated With Payer Mix, Seeking Faster Referral Response Times

The complete survey results are available. Please submit any questions or requests for the complete survey results to info@patientplacement.com.

More SNF survey results to report. This time, the focus is on census, marketing, admissions and revenue challenges:

Professionals working for skilled nursing facility providers struggle to achieve their optimum payer mix, according to new survey results published today by Patient Placement Systems. The survey, which captured feedback about census and revenue challenges and priorities, also revealed that SNFs are focusing hard on responding faster to patient referrals.

SNFs are setting aggressive targets for response times, with 80 percent aiming for 60 minutes or less. With Medicare cuts looming, speed, competitiveness and business intelligence are more important than ever to SNFs.

Most of the frustration related to census building seems focused on payer mix and reporting:

• Only 39 percent of SNF professionals are satisfied or very satisfied with the payer mix of the patient referrals received.
• Only 42 percent are satisfied or very satisfied with the payer mix for their current census.
• Only 36 percent are satisfied or very satisfied with their ability to generate reports of marketing and admissions trends and analysis across all facilities.

 Other results highlight high-priority areas for census and revenue growth for SNF organizations:

• 86 percent of SNF professionals believe that improving referral response times is very important or most important.
• 85 percent feel that optimizing payer mix is a high priority.
• 84 percent place high importance on accurately and effectively manage and collect reimbursements.
• 78 percent place high importance on preparing for diminishing funding from Medicare.

These survey results support what we hear frequently from SNF clients and prospects—that the competition for referrals is increasing. SNF organizations must apply the right strategies and tools to maintain a competitive advantage, build and manage quality census, and sustain revenue.