Our managers, tenants and borrowers are subject to complex federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to governmental healthcare programs. See "Item 1. Business - Government Regulation." in this Annual Report. Regulation of the healthcare industry generally has intensified over time both in the number and type of regulations and in the efforts to enforce those regulations. Federal, state and local laws and regulations affecting the healthcare industry include those relating to, among other things, licensure; certification and enrollment with government programs; facility operations; addition or expansion of services or facilities; services and equipment; allowable costs; the preparation and filing of cost reports; privacy and security of health-related and other personal information; prices for services; quality of medical equipment and services; necessity and adequacy of medical care; patient rights; billing and coding for services and properly handling overpayments; maintenance of adequate records; relationships with physicians and other referral sources and referral recipients; debt collection; communications with patients and consumers; interoperability; and information blocking. If our tenants, operators or borrowers fail to comply with applicable laws and regulations, they may be subject to liabilities and other consequences including civil penalties, loss of facility licensure, exclusion from participation in the Medicare, Medicaid, and other government healthcare programs, civil lawsuits and criminal penalties. In addition, different interpretations or enforcement of, or changes to, applicable laws and regulations in the future could subject current or past practices to allegations of illegality or impropriety or could require our managers, tenants and borrowers to make changes to their facilities, equipment, personnel, services, and operating expenses. If the operations, cash flows or financial condition of our tenants, operators and/or borrowers are materially adversely impacted by current or future government regulation, our revenue and operations may be adversely affected as well. In addition, if an operator, borrower or tenant defaults on its lease or loan with us, our ability to replace the operator or tenant may be delayed by federal, state, or local approval processes.
Our tenants', operators' and borrowers' businesses are also affected by government and private payor reimbursement rates and policies. Payments from government programs and private payors are subject to statutory and regulatory changes, retroactive rate adjustments, recovery of program overpayments or set-offs, administrative rulings, policy interpretations, payment or other delays by fiscal intermediaries, government funding restrictions (at a program level or with respect to specific facilities) and interruption or delays in payments due to delays or issues implementing reimbursement-related rules and any ongoing governmental investigations and audits at specific facilities. In recent years, legislative and regulatory changes have resulted in limitations and reductions in payments for certain services under government programs. For example, the Budget Control Act of 2011 requires automatic spending reductions to reduce the federal deficit, resulting in a uniform payment reduction across all Medicare programs of 2% per fiscal year that extends through the first eight months of 2032. State budgetary pressures have resulted, and will likely continue to result, in reduced spending or reduced spending growth for Medicaid programs in many states, including measures such as tightening patient eligibility requirements, reducing coverage, and enrolling Medicaid recipients in managed care programs. In addition, legislation and administrative actions at the federal level may impact the funding for, or structure of, Medicaid programs and may shape administration of Medicaid programs at the state level. CMS may implement or oversee changes affecting reimbursement, including through new or modified demonstration projects, such as those authorized pursuant to Medicaid waivers.
Any reductions in Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement could have an adverse effect on the financial operations of our borrowers, operators and tenants who operate SNFs. Further, reductions in payments under government healthcare programs may negatively impact payments from private payors, as some private payors rely on government payment systems to determine payment rates. There can be no assurance that adequate reimbursement levels will continue to be available for services provided by any facility operator, whether the facility receives reimbursement from Medicare, Medicaid or private payor sources. Significant limits on the scope of services reimbursed and on reimbursement rates and fees could have a material adverse effect on an operator's liquidity, financial condition and results of operations, which could adversely affect the ability of an operator to meet its obligations to us.
More generally, the legislative and regulatory environment for healthcare products and services is dynamic, and Congress and certain state legislatures have considered or enacted a large number of laws and regulations intended to make major changes in the healthcare system, including laws that affect how healthcare services are delivered and reimbursed. Recent government initiatives and proposals relevant to our properties include those focused on transparency of SNF ownership and minimum long-term care facility staffing requirements. For example, a final rule issued by CMS in November 2023 requires Medicare-enrolled SNFs and Medicaid-enrolled nursing homes to disclose additional information about owners, operators, and management, including whether they are a REIT or private equity company. This information will be publicly available. This rule may result in increased scrutiny of REITs, private equity companies, and similar entities involved in owning or operating SNFs and nursing homes. In addition, CMS issued a final rule in May 2024 that establishes minimum staffing standards for Medicare- and Medicaid-certified nursing facilities, to be phased in over five years. This rule is the subject of legal challenges. If implemented in its current form, the staffing standards rule is expected to result in increased costs and operational challenges for long-term care providers, including as a result of increased competition for labor. Other industry participants, such as private payors, may also introduce financial or delivery system reforms. There is uncertainty with regard to whether, when and what health reform initiatives will be adopted in the future and the impact of such reform efforts on providers and other healthcare industry participants, including our managers, tenants and borrowers.