Occupancy at skilled nursing facilities has surged to 79%, a clear sign of renewed trust in post‑acute care, according to Plante Moran’s latest benchmarking report. But 2026 brings new challenges: with Medicare Advantage’s complex authorizations, shorter stays, and pressure from value based payment models, SNFs must sharpen their quality metrics, payer strategies, and partnerships. The real work starts now. Providers aiming to thrive will need fresh approaches to manage shifting payer dynamics and elevate clinical outcomes.
To protect margins, SNFs need to use benchmarks to better understand what’s impacting their financial and operational performance. Here are important benchmarks to watch.
