VERSED: A VIUM Capital Podcast

What happens when policymakers treat every skilled nursing facility as if it's the same? According to healthcare reimbursement expert Marc Zimmet, that's one of the biggest mistakes driving instability across the industry today. In this episode of VERSED, host Steve Kennedy sits down to discuss the realities of skilled nursing economics, reimbursement policy, and why many facilities struggle despi...

On this episode of VERSED powered by VIUM Capital, Steve Kennedy sits down with James Balda, President & CEO of Argentum, to unpack the biggest forces shaping the future of senior housing. From workforce shortages to access to capital, Balda shares a clear-eyed view of the challenges and opportunities facing the industry today. The conversation explores the growing supply-demand imbalance, wit...

In this episode of VERSED, Steve Kennedy sits down with Rod Burkett , Chairman and Co-Founder, and Julie Simpkins , Co-CEO of Gardant Management Solutions, to explore the growing importance of affordable assisted living. They discuss how this model fills a critical gap between private pay assisted living and skilled nursing, why it creates value for residents, states, and investors, and how advoca...

Hear why relationships matter in transactions, common misconceptions about seniors housing and financing in healthcare, and current trends in the healthcare financing product. On this episode of VERSED, Steve Kennedy sits down with Mike Dury , President and CEO of Merchants Capital , the joint venture partner of VIUM Capital. Mike reflects on his journey from a small agency lending shop to leading...

In this episode of VERSED, Steve Kennedy sits down with Tim Fields and Barry Carr , Co-founders and Principals of Ignite Medical Resorts, to discuss how they’ve reimagined skilled nursing through a hospitality-driven approach. From their origin story to their rapid growth across six states, Tim and Barry share the challenges of building a new model, the importance of culture, and why execution mat...

In a recap conversation of the 2025 ASHA Mid-Year Meeting, David Schless , President & CEO of ASHA, shares how the federally focused, boutique association is leading in federal policy, research, consumer education, and meetings for the seniors housing industry. In addition, he comments on ASHA’s amicus brief in support of Silverado Senior Living and the impact of immigration policies on operat...

In this episode of VERSED, Steve Kennedy sits down with Vikas Gupta , CIO of Omega Healthcare Investors, to discuss Omega’s investment philosophy, UK market expansion, government reimbursement models, debt structures, and the ongoing policy landscape affecting senior housing and healthcare. Vikas shares valuable insights on how Omega evaluates opportunities, why operator relationships matter most,...

On this episode of VERSED Podcast, Bill Killmer , Senior Vice President, Legislative & Political Affairs with Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) joins VIUM Capital’s Steve Kennedy to dive into the latest developments in Washington, D.C., and their impact on the commercial real estate (CRE) sector, particularly focusing on seniors housing and healthcare. Hear insights on the primary decision-ma...

In this new Election 2024 Series, Brian Perry , Vice President, Government Affairs at Direct Supply, joins Scott Tittle on VERSED to discuss the political landscape in the final days leading up to Election Day. They explore possible shifts in the White House, as well as House and Senate leadership, with implications for healthcare policy, regulations, Medicaid, and private equity in the long term...

Using a data-driven approach, Joel Theisen , Founder and CEO at Lifespark, aims to reduce unnecessary emergency room visits through his company’s newly launched Urgent Response Services program which will allow certain emergency room services, such as x-rays, lab work, EKGs, and sutures, to be provided directly in a senior’s own home. Joel also shares why the leadership mindsets, “failing forward”...

Bridging relationships between universities and providers to determine how best to attract, educate, and train future leaders in long term care and senior living is the mission of Doug Olson , President & CEO at The Vision Centre. Doug highlights the Centre's recent 6th annual symposium, which gathered various stakeholders to guide the organization’s direction and enhance its efforts to raise...

LaShuan Bethea , Executive Director of the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL), joins Scott Tittle on VERSED to discuss current topics in assisted living, including the Senate Aging Committee's hearings in early 2024 that focused on the committee members’ concerns over transparency, resident safety, and rising prices. She emphasizes the importance of educating the public and policymakers ab...

Erin Hennessey , President and CEO of Health Dimensions Group, joins Scott Tittle on VERSED to discuss her life-long commitment to the long term care sector, the trend towards value based care, the potential role of AI technology, and the labor crisis post-COVID. As a certified gerontologist with 20+ years of experience in senior health care, Erin also discusses the impact of CMS's minimum staffin...

Bob Kramer, Founder/Fellow of Nexus Insights, and Co-Founder, Former CEO, and Strategic Advisor at the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing and Care (NIC), joins Scott Tittle on VERSED to discuss his recent LinkedIn post on why he thinks we will finally have long term care as a part of every presidential candidate’s campaign platform in the 2028 election and what those top priorities wil...

Emmett Reed, President of the Florida Health Care Association , joins Scott Tittle on VERSED to highlight the work he has orchestrated for Florida throughout his career and what is happening now in his state’s legislative sessions. Emmett also addresses Mark Parkinson’s retirement from AHCA/NCAL and the vast contributions to the sector, plus hear insights into the future of the Florida State colle...

Clif Porter , Senior Vice President of Government Relations at AHCA/NCAL , joins Scott Tittle on VERSED to discuss how his career path led him from running skilled nursing facilities in Virginia right out of college to now advocating for the long term care sector in DC at the highest levels.  Clif previews what could be next with respect to President Biden’s SNF minimum staffing ratio as well as w...

Alan Fairbanks , President of the Value-Based Care Alliance at Serviam Care Network , joins Scott Tittle on VERSED to discuss his role at Serviam and how providers from across the continuum, including assisted and independent living, can and should participate in a value-based care network.  Hear how Alan believes data shared amongst network partners plays a critical role in Serviam’s success as w...

Mark Traylor , President of Traylor Porter Healthcare, joins Scott Tittle on VERSED to discuss his experience in the industry, Alabama’s unique state-wide approach to value-based care, and President Biden’s proposed SNF minimum staffing ratio rule. Plus, hear from a die-hard Alabama football fan on how correctly taking advantage of luck can make you a better leader. Mark is an independent owner in...

Tom Coble , President and CEO of Elmbrook Management Company in Oklahoma, joins Scott Tittle on VERSED Podcast to discuss how value-based care has changed over the years and where it may be headed in the near future. Tom also serves as Chief Strategy Officer of American Health Plans and is credited for forming the very first provider-owned iSNP in the country. Tom also emphasizes the impact the st...

Marquis Companies , Consonus Healthcare and AgeRight CFO, Steve Fogg joins VIUM’s Scott Tittle to discuss his family’s investment in the long-term care sector which spans five generations, the groundbreaking progress he’s had with their Institutional Special Needs Insurance Plan (ISNP), and his leadership in supporting value-based care developments nationally. This conversation highlights the impo...

ATI Advisory CEO and Founder of Daughterhood Anne Tumlinson joins Scott Tittle on VERSED Podcast with insights into the world of value based care, including its benefits, downsides, and opportunities for savings in various communities. Anne also discusses how to go about implementing value based care into a community while assessing the risks and nuances that come along with it.

AHCA/NCAL President and CEO Mark Parkinson joins Scott Tittle on VERSED Podcast to discuss opportunities for the skilled nursing industry and regulatory agenda items facing the sector. Additionally, when discussing census and workforce challenges in a post-Covid world, Mark shares that despite ongoing obstacles, mortality and hospitalization rates are at an all-time low.

Seema Verma is the former Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). As the head of CMS, she sought to improve the lives of the nearly 100 million Americans that benefit from federal programs under CMS’ authority, and specifically long term care residents, by reducing unnecessary paperwork for providers and putting patients first, modernizing the survey and certificatio...

We spoke with Derek Prince , CEO of HMG Healthcare out of Texas, about the issues he’s facing as an owner/operator in the long term care sector, as well as an advocacy leader at the highest levels in Texas and Washington, D.C. Listen to this fascinating discussion about his career beginning on the front lines as a certified nursing assistant to now serving as the CEO of one of the largest operator...

Join Scott Tittle , host of Versed: A VIUM Capital Podcast, along with Bernie McGuiness , CEO of Majestic Care, as we hear about the incredibly innovative work Bernie and his team are doing to attract and retain high quality staff during these very difficult times. Bernie’s passion for his team members and residents is evident in his lifelong commitment to the profession in which he’s played so ma...