Referral Trends Open Doors for SNFs Treating Mental Illness

Referral Trends Open Doors for SNFs Treating Mental Illness

A new study highlights how hospital referral patterns are shifting for patients with serious mental illness who also face major medical conditions. Historically, these individuals were often directed to out-of-network nursing homes, limiting their access to coordinated care. However, with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ focus on reducing hospital readmissions for certain conditions, hospitals are increasingly placing patients with behavioral health needs in their preferred in-network skilled nursing facilities (SNFs).

“Hospitals, meanwhile, are under more pressure to ensure that traditional Medicare patients with certain common conditions don’t return to the hospital. CMS said its focus on lowering readmissions should improve care coordination and better engage patients and caregivers in discharge planning.”

For SNFs, this shift offers a chance to strengthen partnerships with hospitals while serving a complex patient population.

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