Episodios

  • New CMS Models and What They Mean to Long Term Care Providers

    New CMS Models and What They Mean to Long Term Care Providers
    Mar 16 2026
    In this episode, host Debbie Stadtler speaks with Nisha Hammel, Vice President of Reimbursement Policy and Population Health for AHCA/NCAL, about the rapid shift from fee-for-service to value-based care and what it means for long-term care and assisted living providers. Nisha reflects on her journey from geriatric social work to national policy leadership and explains how CMS has introduced roughly 11 new payment models in the past year. These models place increasing emphasis on prevention, provider accountability, technology-enabled care, and patient engagement, with more than 70 percent of payments now tied to quality and patient experience. The conversation explores several models that could affect providers, including the mandatory TEAM model, the state-based AHEAD and GEO AHEAD initiatives, and the forthcoming 10-year LEAD ACO model. Nisha encourages providers to stay informed, talk with clinical partners about ACO participation, understand their baseline utilization data, strengthen on-site clinical workflows to reduce avoidable transfers, and take advantage of AHCA/NCAL resources such as toolkits and the Population Health Management Summit. Perspectives in Long Term Care is produced by Association Briefings. Transcript Debbie Stadtler: [00:00:00] The transition from fee-for-service to value-based care is here. Learn the latest on new CMS payment models in this episode of Perspectives in Long Term Care. Hi, I'm Debbie Stadtler, editor-in-chief of Provider Magazine, the flagship publication of the American Healthcare Association and the National Center for Assisted Living. I'd like to welcome you to this episode of Perspectives in Long Term Care, a monthly podcast produced by AHCA and NCAL. Each month we'll talk with long term care and assisted living professionals about the opportunities and challenges impacting the long term and post-acute care profession. My guest today is Nisha Hammel, vice president of reimbursement policy and population health for AHCA and NCAL. She leads the association's policy and strategic initiatives on value-based care and innovative payment models. She brings 20 years of experience in post-acute care and senior living. Welcome, Nisha. Thanks for being with [00:01:00] us. Nisha Hammel: Thanks, Debbie. Thank you for having me. Debbie Stadtler: We'd like to start at the beginning, so tell us a little bit about you and your career journey. What led you to get started in long term care? Nisha Hammel: My career journey really began next door with my maternal grandparents who were like second parents to me. I grew up in a home and culture that really revered old adults, so my passion for aging was shaped early. You could say, I honestly never stood a chance of choosing anything else. Even when my peers would ask like, what are you majoring in? I stuck with geriatric social work as my master's program back when only a couple of schools in the entire country offered it as even as an optional major. From there, I started out as a social worker in a skilled nursing facility and moved [00:02:00] through a variety of operational and leadership roles in assisted living, home health, hospice, affordable housing. Really, I think each step taught me something new about caring for older adults with dignity. I really feel very blessed for that incredible journey. Eventually, I joined a state association where I helped lead providers in exploring new ways to work together that included some of our earliest conversations around value-based care and population health, and even how long term care could participate in Medicare Advantage in a meaningful way. It was an experience I still consider a privilege, and it has carried me into essentially the next chapter of my journey, which led me to AHCA, where I now have the opportunity to help advance models and policies that [00:03:00] transform care for older adults and support the truly exceptional providers who care for them every single day. Also, having the opportunity to advocate for some common sense policies to Medicare Advantage. I'd say each position has really felt like something I was called to do, and I am deeply humbled by this path and incredibly grateful that it all started with two grandparents right next door. Debbie Stadtler: I'm always amazed at how many people have that personal connection, whether it's a grandparent or a family friend or a mother/father that really started them out in this profession. And I think, like you said, so many people feel it's a calling. It's really such a personal connection to this work, and I think that makes it really special. I want us to talk about value-based payments. Set the stage for us. [00:04:00] Where are we now? What has happened recently? What's going on in this area? Nisha Hammel: Sure. I'd say value-based care has consistently received support from both Democratic and Republican administrations. While each may emphasize different elements, I think the overall ...
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    27 m
  • Elevating the Customer Experience in Long Term Care

    Elevating the Customer Experience in Long Term Care
    Feb 13 2026
    In this episode, host Debbie Stadtler welcomes Heather TerHark, Chief Strategy Officer at Viva Senior Living, and Samantha Lawrence, Regional Vice President of Operations at Brightview Senior Living, for a conversation on redefining customer experience in long-term care. Together, they explore how organizations can move beyond traditional customer service to deliver more personalized, relationship-driven care. The discussion highlights the growing expectations of today’s residents, the impact of technology and AI on safety and engagement, and the critical role of staff training, empathy and culture in shaping meaningful experiences. The episode also invites listeners to get involved by joining the Customer Experience Committee to help advance resources and innovation across the industry. Perspectives in Long Term Care is produced by Association Briefings. Transcript Debbie Stadtler: [00:00:00] Is your facility making the best impression possible on everyone who walks through the front door? Learn easy ways to boost your customer experience in this episode of Perspectives in Long Term Care. Hi, I'm Debbie Stadtler, editor-in-chief of Provider Magazine, the flagship publication of the American Health care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living. I'd like to welcome you to this episode of Perspectives in Long Term Care, a monthly podcast produced by AHCA and NCAL. Each month we'll talk with long-term care and assisted living professionals about the opportunities and challenges impacting the long-term and post-acute care profession. My guests today are Heather TerHark and Samantha Lawrence. Heather is the chief strategy officer at Viva Senior Living and brings more than 27 years of experience to the table. Samantha is regional vice president of operations at Brightview Senior Living in New Jersey and has served seniors in various capacities for 26 [00:01:00] years. Heather and Samantha are the co-chairs of AHCA's Customer Experience Committee. Welcome, Heather. Samantha. Thanks for being with us. Heather TerHark: Thank you for having us, Debbie. We're so excited to be here. Debbie Stadtler: We like to start at the beginning. So tell us a little bit about your personal journey, your career journey. How did you end up where you are now? What led you to get started in long-term care? Samantha, start with your journey. Tell us a little bit about it. Samantha Lawrence: So I was fortunate to know three great-grandparents and all of my grandparents and wow, when I was about 10 years old, my one great-grandfather had developed Alzheimer's. And at that time, communities like Heather and I had the opportunity to be engaged with didn't quite exist, so it was in a rural nursing home. I went to visit my great-grandfather and a woman that was a patient/resident there grabbed my arm and said, honey, will you get me a laxative? I did not know what that was at the ripe old age of 10. But I knew she [00:02:00] needed something. So I went to the desk and I said, excuse me, this woman over there in blue, she needs a laxative and that nurse turned my career path. Because she said, “Honey, she says that all the time. Just ignore her.” I didn't know what the right answer was, but I knew that didn't sound like the right answer. So I just went back and started talking to her and then you could not peel me out of there. I'm like, “Mom, this woman can't reach her cup. This woman is shaking and her food's falling off of her fork and we have to go.” Like I said, these people need help. So volunteering closer to my home, playing the violin at dinner for a local nursing home, and they needed a part-time receptionist when I turned 16. I did a paper application. I called my mom on a payphone. I said I was really nervous about my big interview, and she said, “You are the only 16-year-old that is stoked about working in a nursing home. I think you'll get the job.” And so then I never looked back. I grew my career in different frontline roles in reception activities, moved into management roles, got my administrator's license [00:03:00] in assisted living. Went into a subject matter expert role in dementia programming, but realized my heart was in operations, and been with Brightview now for the past 11 years, about six of those in a regional capacity, and was an executive director in Paramus, New Jersey, for them. Opening that community actually prior to this role. Debbie Stadtler: It's amazing how many people that I speak with that the beginning of their journey has some sort of family connection to how they start in this industry. So it's really interesting. Heather, tell us a little bit about your journey. Heather TerHark: Sure I wasn't quite as soon as Sam at the age of 10, but a woman in college. We all think we're going into college and we have this career path all mapped at, and I was working at a hospital as just more of that part-time job that you do in college and I got the ...
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    30 m
  • Building Trust Where It Matters Most

    Building Trust Where It Matters Most
    Jan 12 2026

    In this episode, host Debbie Stadtler sits down with David Gifford, MD, MPH, chief medical officer of the American Health Care Association, for a thoughtful conversation on building trust in long-term care. Dr. Gifford shares his career journey and explores why trust is foundational to effective healthcare systems. Together, they discuss the role of empathy, authenticity, and clear communication in strengthening relationships among care teams, residents, and families. Dr. Gifford also addresses the challenges technology can introduce and offers practical strategies for cultivating trusted colleagues and leading with intention. The episode includes actionable guidance for fostering stronger trust and communication in long-term care settings.

    Perspectives in Long Term Care is produced by Association Briefings.
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    30 m
  • Looking Forward in Long Term Care

    Looking Forward in Long Term Care
    Dec 10 2025

    In this episode, host Debbie Stadtler sits down with Clif Porter II, CEO of the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living, to reflect on his first year in this dual leadership role. Porter shares key accomplishments from the past year—including meaningful progress on Medicaid reform and staffing mandates—while emphasizing the importance of staying connected to the “why” behind their mission and recognizing the diversity and purpose-driven nature of long-term care careers. Looking ahead to 2026, Porter discusses top priorities such as strengthening regulatory environments, addressing challenges with Medicare Advantage plans, and supporting a resilient workforce. He also underscores the critical role members play in shaping policy, calling for deeper engagement with Congress and continued advocacy for the sector.

    Perspectives in Long Term Care is produced by Association Briefings.
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    23 m
  • People Management in Long Term Care

    People Management in Long Term Care
    Nov 12 2025

    In this episode, host Debbie Stadtler talks with Mark Gogal, vice president of workforce development at the North Carolina Health Care Facilities Association. Their conversation focuses on the essential people management skills every leader needs—self-awareness, empathy, and active listening—and how these qualities shape effective servant leadership. They also explore strategies for recruitment and retention, the value of a welcoming workplace culture, and the ways technology and AI are transforming the long-term care landscape. Mark emphasizes the ongoing responsibility of leaders to grow, adapt, and create environments that support both their teams and the residents they serve.

    Perspectives in Long Term Care is produced by Association Briefings.
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    31 m
  • Financial Sustainability in Long Term Care

    Financial Sustainability in Long Term Care
    Oct 13 2025

    In this episode, host Debbie Stadtler sits down with Nate Schema, president and CEO of Good Samaritan, to explore the challenges and opportunities shaping the financial sustainability of long-term care. From his early days as an administrator-in-training to leading the nation’s largest nonprofit senior care provider, Nate shares lessons learned about leveraging scale, investing in the workforce, and embracing technology to enhance quality and stability. The conversation also highlights the power of servant leadership and the role of strategic partnerships in delivering lasting value for residents, staff, and communities.

    This episode is sponsored by Pharmerica.

    Perspectives in Long Term Care is produced by Association Briefings.
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    24 m
  • Celebrating National Assisted Living Week

    Celebrating National Assisted Living Week
    Sep 5 2025

    In this episode, host Debbie Stadtler celebrates National Assisted Living Week with Scott Yaeger, regional director of operations at Chelsea Senior Living. Scott reflects on his journey from intern to regional director, the company’s beginnings, and its focus on building strong connections with both employees and residents. Listeners will also hear from Chelsea resident Mo Resner—a lifelong Cubs fan, former player and coach, and comedian—who shares colorful stories from his career, including the thrill of throwing a first pitch at a Cubs game and his many adventures with the team.

    This episode is sponsored by Pharmerica.

    Perspectives in Long Term Care is produced by Association Briefings.
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    22 m
  • Navigating Workplace Conflict in Long Term Care

    Navigating Workplace Conflict in Long Term Care
    Aug 13 2025

    In this episode, host Debbie Stadtler chats with Avi Olitzky, president and principal consultant at Olitzky Consulting Group, about navigating conflict in the workplace. Avi unpacks the essential role of tools, trust, and structure in fostering productive conversations and psychological safety. He shares practical skills—like active listening, empathy, humility, and emotional regulation—alongside proven frameworks. The conversation also examines how leaders can model the behaviors they want to see, creating a culture that supports open dialogue and resolution.

    This episode is sponsored by Jubo Health Technologies.

    Perspectives in Long Term Care is produced by Association Briefings.
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    34 m