Facilities aren’t just hiring for compliance anymore — they’re hiring to protect revenue, optimize reimbursements, and navigate payer complexity. Clinical reimbursement experts are the linchpin between care delivery and financial sustainability. They’re not “just” coders, but rather strategic revenue protectors. 

At Aspen, we keep an eye on trends like these that can help you get a competitive edge. Here are three ways that reimbursement expertise can be a true differentiator in your recruiting strategy.

  • Revenue Impact

Hiring top talent with MDS coding and clinical reimbursement expertise can reduce denials, accelerate cash flow, and improve margins, especially in SNFs, rehab, and home health. This expertise can have indirect benefits as well. According to research from AAPACN, skilled nursing facilities with a Resident Assessment Coordinator-Certified (RAC-CT) staff member have a 16% higher overall Five-Star rating than those without a RAC-CT staff member. In turn, these improved quality ratings and reputations translate to greater revenue and fewer missed opportunities.

  • Regulatory Agility

As in many fields, senior living and skilled nursing organizations need to be staffed with professionals who are proactive, not reactive. Successful organizations will seek out candidates who stay ahead of PDPM, OASIS-E, and payer audits — not just react to them. The costs of non-compliance are constantly increasing, from lower reimbursements and payer categories to penalties imposed for incomplete data. A clinical reimbursement expert can be worth their salary several times over by catching these issues and ensuring you’re never playing “catch-up” with regulatory requirements.

  • Cross-Functional Fluency

While data and regulatory expertise are important qualifications for clinical reimbursement talent, those aren’t the only qualities to prioritize. Look for professionals who can bridge clinical documentation, billing, and compliance. They’re the ones who drive real change, especially in a landscape that is increasingly complex and interconnected. 

In the face of massive shifts in the Medicaid and healthcare landscape, organizations that invest in MDS coding and clinical reimbursement talent will be the ones to emerge as competitive, strong, and agile leaders in the field. Talk to Aspen Associates to learn more about bringing top talent to your team now!