Value-Based Care Solutions for Skilled Nursing
By Net Health
The implementation process for Value-Based Care Solutions for Skilled Nursing is a structured, multi-week journey designed to ensure data integrity and team buy-in. It begins with a technical discovery phase where the Net Health implementation team works with the facility’s IT department to establish a secure data feed from the existing EHR (e.g., PointClickCare, MatrixCare, or Net Health Optima). Once the data connection is verified, a clinical implementation specialist conducts a series of onboarding sessions with the MDS coordinator and facility leadership. These sessions focus on 'operationalizing' the data—setting specific goals for readmission reduction or star-rating improvements. The typical 'go-live' timeline is 30 to 60 days, depending on the number of facilities and the complexity of existing data sets. Net Health uses a 'team-based' implementation approach, ensuring that not just one person, but multiple departments (including nursing, admissions, and therapy), are trained on how to use the dashboards effectively to drive QAPI processes.
The platform offers extensive customization capabilities to meet the specific needs of different SNF operators. Users can customize their dashboards to track specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) relevant to their unique patient population, such as specific diagnosis-related rehospitalization rates for CHF or COPD. The 'Five-Star FastTrack' module is highly configurable, allowing users to enter custom data points to simulate 'what-if' scenarios based on planned staffing changes or targeted improvements in specific quality measures. Furthermore, enterprise-level users (like REITs or hospital networks) can create custom reporting views to compare performance across different regions or facility types. While the core predictive algorithms are proprietary and standardized for benchmark accuracy, the reporting outputs, alert thresholds, and user access levels are fully tailorable to the facility's workflow and organizational structure.
Beyond the base subscription fee, customers should be aware of potential additional costs related to implementation, integrations, and advanced training. There is typically a one-time implementation fee for each facility to cover the technical setup and initial clinical onboarding. While many EHR integrations are standard, complex custom integrations with proprietary legacy systems may incur additional development charges. Net Health also offers advanced 'Premium Support' and on-site training packages for large organizations that want a higher level of hands-on assistance. Additionally, while the core Value-Based Care suite is comprehensive, some specialized modules like the newly launched AI ambient documentation (through the Tali.ai partnership) may be offered as add-ons with separate licensing costs. All potential costs are transparently discussed during the quoting process to ensure there are no surprises during the renewal cycles.
Net Health provides a robust training ecosystem designed to empower staff at all levels of the organization. Training begins during the implementation phase with live, instructor-led webinars tailored for MDS coordinators and facility managers. For ongoing education, users have 24/7 access to 'Net Health University,' an online learning management system containing hundreds of video tutorials, tip sheets, and certification courses. The company also hosts regular 'Education + Support' webinars that cover the latest CMS regulatory changes, such as PDPM updates or new QRP requirements. For more intensive learning, the annual 'Net Health NEXT' conference offers hands-on training forums and strategic sessions led by industry experts. This multi-tiered approach ensures that as staff turnover occurs—a common challenge in the SNF industry—new employees can quickly get up to speed on the analytics platform without disrupting the facility's quality improvement efforts.
Security is a foundational element of Value-Based Care Solutions, reflecting Net Health’s role as a trusted partner in the healthcare space. The platform is hosted in a secure cloud environment with advanced encryption for data both at rest and in transit. Net Health undergoes rigorous annual SOC 2 Type 2 and HITRUST audits to verify that its security controls meet or exceed industry standards for protected health information (PHI). The system features a 24/7/365 Security Operations Center (SOC) monitoring for potential threats. Access to the platform is managed through Identity and Access Management (IAM) controls paired with Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). Additionally, the company has implemented a comprehensive 'Data and AI Governance Plan' to ensure the ethical and transparent use of AI technologies, protecting patient privacy while delivering advanced predictive insights. All staff members undergo mandatory annual security and HIPAA training to maintain a high level of organizational vigilance.
Value-Based Care Solutions follows a modern SaaS release cadence, with minor updates and bug fixes deployed frequently (often monthly) without requiring facility downtime. Major feature releases and regulatory updates (such as adjustments for new CMS fiscal year rules) typically occur on a quarterly basis. Net Health is particularly proactive in updating the platform to reflect changes in CMS Quality Reporting Programs (QRP) and Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) metrics. Users are notified of upcoming changes through in-app notifications, email newsletters, and monthly 'What's New' webinars. The 2024 rebranding and the 2025 AI governance rollout are examples of major strategic updates that are deployed seamlessly across the cloud infrastructure, ensuring that all 2,400+ facilities are always operating on the most current and compliant version of the software.
Net Health maintains a clear policy that customers own their clinical and resident data. The platform acts as a 'data processor' under HIPAA, while the SNF remains the 'data owner.' In the event of a contract termination, Net Health provides standardized data export options, allowing facilities to retrieve their historical analytics and MDS records. The company also emphasizes data portability, ensuring that the insights generated within the Value-Based Care suite can be integrated with other parts of the Net Health ecosystem or shared with hospital partners through interoperable formats. Their privacy policy and Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) explicitly outline that they do not sell patient data and that all data usage is strictly for the purpose of providing the service, conducting authorized research, and providing de-identified national benchmarks that benefit the entire SNF community.
The platform is built on a highly scalable cloud architecture that supports everything from single-facility rural SNFs to massive national REITs managing hundreds of locations. For smaller facilities, the system provides a manageable set of tools to focus on core 5-star improvements. For large enterprises, the system scales by offering 'Global View' dashboards that consolidate data from thousands of residents across multiple states into a single executive report. This allows corporate clinical officers to identify 'hot spots' of rehospitalization risk or reimbursement gaps across their entire portfolio instantly. The system also scales in terms of data volume; as the facility grows its patient census or adds new service lines (like specialized wound care or ventilator units), the platform’s predictive models adapt to handle the increased complexity and data density without a loss in performance.
Contracts for Value-Based Care Solutions are typically structured as annual or multi-year SaaS subscriptions. The terms include standard service level agreements (SLAs) regarding system uptime and support response times. Renewal processes are handled through dedicated account management teams who conduct regular 'Business Reviews' to ensure the facility is seeing a measurable ROI. Cancellation typically requires a 30 to 90-day written notice prior to the end of the current term. The contracts also include mandatory Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) to ensure HIPAA compliance. Net Health also offers flexible 'Solution Packages' that allow facilities to add or remove specific modules (like Five-Star FastTrack) as their strategic needs change, ensuring that the facility is only paying for the tools they are actively using to drive performance.
Compliance is at the heart of Net Health’s value proposition. The platform is designed to ensure that SNFs remain in full compliance with CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) requirements, including MDS 3.0 standards, PDPM coding rules, and QRP reporting. The software undergoes regular audits to maintain SOC 2 Type 2 and HITRUST certifications, ensuring the highest level of data security and privacy compliance. Furthermore, Net Health’s AI initiatives are designed to meet the upcoming ONC DSI (Decision Support Interventions) certification requirements, providing transparency into how predictive models are built and used. By using CBE-endorsed quality measures, the platform also helps SNFs meet the rigorous compliance standards set by hospital networks and managed care payers, positioning the facility as a high-quality, low-risk partner in the value-based care landscape.
