The essential reference guide for skilled nursing operators: 50 key metrics, what good looks like, what needs attention, and how to read each number in context.
View All 50 BenchmarksIndustry targets, warning levels, and alert thresholds for the metrics that determine SNF performance, reimbursement, and regulatory standing.
| # | Metric | Category | Target (Strong) | Warning | Alert |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Overall 5-Star Rating | Quality | 4–5 stars | 3 stars | <3 stars |
| 2 | Health Inspection Rating | Compliance | 4–5 stars | 3 stars | <3 stars |
| 3 | Staffing Rating | Staffing | 4–5 stars | 3 stars | <3 stars |
| 4 | QM Rating | Quality | 4–5 stars | 3 stars | <3 stars |
| 5 | Total Nurse HPRD | Staffing | ≥4.0 | 3.48–3.99 | <3.48 (violation) |
| 6 | RN HPRD | Staffing | ≥0.75 | 0.55–0.74 | <0.55 (violation) |
| 7 | CNA HPRD | Staffing | ≥2.6 | 2.0–2.5 | <2.0 |
| 8 | Staff Turnover Rate | Staffing | <50%/yr | 50–70%/yr | >70%/yr |
| 9 | Agency Usage (% of hours) | Staffing | <5% | 5–15% | >15% |
| 10 | Occupancy Rate | Census | ≥90% | 80–89% | <80% |
| 11 | Medicare % of Census | Finance | 20–35% | 15–19% | <15% |
| 12 | Operating Margin | Finance | 3–8% | 0–2.9% | Negative |
| 13 | Labor as % of Revenue | Finance | 60–65% | 66–70% | >70% |
| 14 | Days Cash on Hand | Finance | ≥30 days | 15–29 days | <15 days |
| 15 | Accounts Receivable Days | Finance | <35 days | 35–50 days | >50 days |
| 16 | PDPM Case Mix Index | Finance | ≥1.10 | 0.95–1.09 | <0.95 |
| 17 | NTA LUPA Rate | Finance | <10% | 10–15% | >15% |
| 18 | Avg SNF Length of Stay | Census | 25–35 days | 15–24 days | <15 days |
| 19 | 30-Day Readmission Rate | Quality | <15% | 15–20% | >20% |
| 20 | Pressure Ulcer Rate (new/worsened) | Quality | <1% | 1–2% | >2% |
| 21 | Fall Rate (per 1,000 resident days) | Quality | <5.0 | 5–7 | >7 |
| 22 | Antipsychotic Use Rate | Quality | <12% | 12–16% | >16% |
| 23 | UTI Rate (per 1,000 days) | Quality | <3.0 | 3–5 | >5 |
| 24 | Resident Complaints (per year) | Compliance | <3 | 3–6 | >6 |
| 25 | Deficiency Citations (annual survey) | Compliance | <5 | 5–10 | >10 |
| 26 | G-Level or Higher Deficiencies | Compliance | 0 | 1 | ≥2 |
| 27 | OBRA Training Compliance | Compliance | 100% | 95–99% | <95% |
| 28 | MDS Accuracy (CASPER error rate) | Finance | <2% | 2–5% | >5% |
| 29 | Medicaid Pending Days Outstanding | Finance | <30 days | 30–60 | >60 days |
| 30 | Therapy Minutes per Resident/Week | Quality | 150+ min (prn need) | Under plan | Not tracking |
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