Skilled Nursing News October 29, 2025
The “flagship program” meant to drive quality at nursing homes most in need of improvement is not working, in part due to an overreliance on financial penalties.
That’s according to a new report from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG).
The report examined nursing homes that went through the Special Focus Facility (SFF) program from 2013 to 2022. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), working in conjunction with state agencies, places nursing homes that have the poorest health inspection survey scores in the SFF program.
Some nursing homes in the SFF program ultimately are terminated from Medicare or Medicaid participation. Nursing homes that meet certain quality improvement benchmarks, confirmed through surveys, graduate...







