Item 1. Business
Item 1 – Business
Overview
Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc. (“Parent”) is a Maryland corporation that, together with its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively, “Omega” or “Company”) has elected to be taxed as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. Omega is structured as an umbrella partnership REIT (“UPREIT”) under which all of Omega's assets are owned directly or indirectly by, and all of Omega's operations are conducted directly or indirectly through, its operating partnership subsidiary, OHI Healthcare Properties Limited Partnership (collectively with subsidiaries, “Omega OP”). As of December 31, 2022, Parent owned approximately 97% of the issued and outstanding units of partnership interest in Omega OP (“Omega OP Units”), and other investors owned approximately 3% of the outstanding Omega OP Units. Omega became a publicly traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1992.
Omega has one reportable segment consisting of investments in healthcare-related real estate properties located in the United States (“U.S.”) and the United Kingdom (“U.K.”). Our goal is to provide strong returns to our investors, while serving as the preferred capital partner to our healthcare operating companies and affiliates (collectively, our “operators”) so they can concentrate on providing a high level of care for their resident-patients.
Property Types
Our core business is to provide financing and capital to the long-term healthcare industry with a particular focus on skilled nursing facilities (“SNFs”), assisted living facilities (“ALFs”), and to a lesser extent, independent living facilities (“ILFs”), rehabilitation and acute care facilities (“specialty facilities”) and medical office buildings (“MOBs”). The following is a summary of our various property types.
● Skilled nursing facilities - SNFs provide services that include daily nursing, therapeutic rehabilitation, social services, activities, housekeeping, nutrition, medication management and administrative services for individuals requiring certain assistance for activities in daily living.
● Assisted living facilities - ALFs provide services that include assistance for activities in daily living and permit residents to maintain some of their privacy and independence as they do not require constant supervision and assistance. Services usually include daily housekeeping, laundry, medical reminders and assistance with the activities of daily living, such as eating, dressing and bathing.
● Independent living facilities - ILFs are age-restricted multi-family properties with central dining facilities that provide services that include security, housekeeping, activities, nutrition and limited laundry services.
● Specialty facilities – Specialty facilities consist of specialty hospitals, long-term acute care hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, behavioral health substance facilities, behavioral health psychiatric facility and traumatic brain injury facilities.
● Medical office buildings – MOBs are facilities designed specifically for healthcare providers such as physicians, dentists and other clinicians.
Investment Strategy & Types
We maintain a portfolio of long-term healthcare facilities, mortgages and other real estate loans on healthcare facilities located in the U.S. and the U.K. Our investments are generally geographically diverse and operated by a diverse group of established, middle-market healthcare operators that we believe meet our standards for quality and experience of management and creditworthiness. Our criteria for evaluating potential investments includes but is not limited to:
·
the quality and experience of management and the creditworthiness of the operator of the facility;
·
the facility’s historical and forecasted cash flow and its ability to meet operational needs, capital expenditure requirements and lease or debt service obligations;
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·
the construction quality, condition and design of the facility and its environmental impact;
·
the location of the facility;
·
the tax, growth, regulatory and reimbursement environment of the applicable jurisdiction;
·
the occupancy rate for the facility and demand for similar healthcare facilities in the same or nearby communities; and
·
the payor mix of private, Medicare and Medicaid patients at the facility.
As healthcare delivery continues to evolve, we continuously evaluate potential investments, as well as our assets, operators and markets to position our portfolio for long-term success. Our strategy includes applying data analytics to our investment underwriting and asset management, as well as selling or transitioning assets that do not meet our portfolio criteria.
We prefer to invest in fee simple ownership of properties. Due to regulatory, tax or other considerations, we may pursue alternative investment structures, such as mortgages and investments in joint ventures. While the market for long-term care real estate acquisitions in the U.S. remained competitive in 2022, we continued to seek and identify selective investments that are accretive to our portfolio. In addition to our U.S.-based investments, we expect to continue to pursue investments in alternative jurisdictions such as the U.K. As part of our continuous evaluation of our portfolio and in connection with certain operator workout transactions, we expect to continue to opportunistically sell assets, or portfolios of assets, from time to time. In addition, as the long-term care industry evolves and adapts to new protocols, we have made and may continue to make select ancillary investments in companies that enhance the technology and infrastructure of long-term care providers and our operators.
We typically seek substantial liquidity deposits, covenants regarding minimum working capital and net worth, liens on accounts receivable and other operating assets, and various provisions for cross-default, cross-collateralization and corporate and/or personal guarantees for our investments when appropriate.
The following summarizes our primary investment structures. The average annualized yields described below reflect obligations under existing contractual arrangements. However, due to the nature of the long-term care industry, we cannot assure that the operators of our facilities will meet their payment obligations in full or when due. Therefore, the annualized yields as of December 31, 2022, set forth below, are not necessarily indicative of future yields, which may be lower.
Real Estate Assets & Leases
Our real estate assets are primarily comprised of land, buildings and improvements and any furniture and equipment contained within our facilities. Substantially all of our leases are triple-net operating leases and require the operator to pay rent and all additional charges incurred in the operation of the leased facility. At December 31, 2022, we had one direct financing lease. Our triple-net operating leases typically range from 5 to 15 years, plus renewal options. Our leases generally provide for minimum annual rents that are subject to annual escalators. Leases with fixed annual rental escalators are generally recognized on a straight-line basis over the initial lease period, subject to a collectibility assessment. At December 31, 2022, our average annualized yield from operating leases was approximately 9.0%. At December 31, 2022, approximately 78% of our operating leases have initial lease terms expiring after 2027. The majority of our leased real estate properties are leased under provisions of master lease agreements that govern more than one facility, and to a lesser extent, we lease facilities under single facility leases. Under our master leases, our operators are required to make one monthly payment that represents rent on all the properties that are subject to the master lease. Certain of our leases also contain operator purchase options or landlord put options.
Some of our leases provide our operators with advances for the construction of facilities or capital expenditures for strategic facility enhancements. Typically, these advances require the operator to pay a fixed percentage of the advances funded as capital expenditure rent under the lease. Construction and upgrades made under these lease clauses are capitalized within our real estate assets. We direct a significant amount of our capital back into existing assets, which we believe sets the stage for our long-term strategic success.
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Real Estate Loans
Real estate loans consist of mortgage loans and other real estate loans which are primarily collateralized by a first, second or third mortgage lien or a leasehold mortgage on, or an assignment of the partnership interest in, the related properties. Our real estate loans typically have a fixed interest rate for the loan term. We enter into real estate loans for existing facilities and for the construction of facilities. At December 31, 2022, our average annualized yield on these investments was approximately 10.1%. At December 31, 2022, approximately 76% of our real estate loans have primary terms that expire after 2027.
Investments in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures
From time to time, we also acquire equity interests in joint ventures or entities that support the long-term healthcare industry and our operators. These are investments in entities that we do not consolidate but for which we can exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies and are reported under the equity method of accounting. Our investments in unconsolidated entities generally represent interests ranging from 9% to 51%. Under the equity method of accounting, our share of the investee’s earnings or losses is included in our consolidated results of operations. The initial carrying value of investments in unconsolidated entities is based on the amount paid to purchase the entity interest inclusive of transaction costs.
Non-Real Estate Loans
Non-real estate loans are loans to our operators and/or their principals that may be either unsecured or secured by the collateral of the borrower and are typically short-term in nature. Collateral under secured non-real estate loans typically consists of the working capital of operator entities. At December 31, 2022, our average annualized yield on these investments was approximately 8.7%. At December 31, 2022, approximately 12% of our non-real estate loans have primary terms that expire after 2027.
Portfolio and Investment Summary
As of December 31, 2022, our portfolio of real estate investments included 926 healthcare facilities located in 42 states and the U.K. operated by 67 third-party operators and was made up of the following:
● Real estate assets, subject to operating leases, that include 664 SNFs, 169 ALFs, 20 ILFs, 16 specialty facilities and two MOBs;
● investment in a direct financing lease on one SNF;
● real estate loans, including first lien mortgages, on 48 SNFs, two ALFs and two specialty facilities;
● investments in unconsolidated joint ventures that hold 63 ALFs and two specialty facilities; and
● 2 facilities held for sale.
Included below is a summary of our total investment assets, excluding accumulated depreciation, as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 (dollars in thousands):
As of December 31,
2022
2021
Real estate assets:
Real estate assets
$
8,860,264
$
9,028,745
Investments in direct financing leases – net
8,503
10,873
Real estate loans receivable – net
1,042,731
1,180,786
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures
178,920
194,687
Assets held for sale
9,456
203,025
Total real estate investments
10,099,874
10,618,116
Non-real estate loans receivable – net
225,281
124,184
Total investments
$
10,325,155
$
10,742,300
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Revenues
The following table summarizes our revenues by investment category for 2022, 2021 and 2020 (dollars in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
2022
2021
2020
Real estate related income:
Rental income
$
750,208
$
923,677
$
753,427
Income from direct financing leases
1,023
1,029
1,033
Real estate loans interest income
110,322
123,649
117,289
Total real estate related revenues
861,553
1,048,355
871,749
Non-real estate loans interest income
13,597
12,733
16,997
Miscellaneous income
3,094
1,721
3,635
Total revenues
$
878,244
$
1,062,809
$
892,381
The table set forth in Item 2 – Properties contains additional information regarding the geographic concentration of our facilities and investments as of December 31, 2022.
Borrowing Policies
We generally attempt to match the maturity of our indebtedness with the maturity of our investment assets and employ long-term, fixed-rate debt to the extent practicable in view of market conditions in existence from time to time.
We may use the proceeds of new indebtedness to finance our investments in additional healthcare facilities. In addition, we may invest in properties subject to existing loans, secured by mortgages, deeds of trust or similar liens on properties.
Policies With Respect To Certain Activities
With respect to our capital requirements, we typically rely on equity offerings, debt financing and retention of cash flow (subject to provisions in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) concerning taxability of undistributed REIT taxable income), or a combination of these methods. Our financing alternatives include bank borrowings, publicly or privately placed debt instruments, purchase money obligations to the sellers of assets or securitizations, any of which may be issued as secured or unsecured indebtedness. We have the authority to issue our common stock or other equity or debt securities in exchange for property and to repurchase or otherwise reacquire our securities. Subject to the percentage of ownership limitations and gross income and asset tests necessary for REIT qualification, we may invest in securities of other REITs, other entities engaged in real estate activities or securities of other issuers, including for the purpose of exercising control over such entities. We may engage in the purchase and sale of investments. We do not underwrite the securities of other issuers. Our officers and directors may change any of these policies without a vote of our stockholders. In the opinion of our management, our properties are adequately covered by insurance.
Competition
The healthcare industry is highly competitive and will likely become more competitive in the future. We face competition in making and pricing new investments from other public and private REITs, investment companies, private equity and hedge fund investors, healthcare operators, lenders, developers and other institutional investors, some of whom may have greater resources and lower costs of capital than us. In addition, a significant amount of our rental and loan interest income is generally derived from facilities in states that require state approval for development and expansion of healthcare facilities. We believe that such state approvals may reduce competition for our operators and enhance the value of our properties. Our operators compete on a local and regional basis with operators of facilities that provide comparable services and, in certain cases, home and community health solutions. The basis of competition for our operators includes, amongst other factors, the quality of care provided, reputation, the physical appearance of a facility, price, the range of services offered, family preference, alternatives for healthcare delivery, the supply of competing properties, physicians, staff, referral sources, location and the size and demographics of the population and surrounding areas.
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Increased competition makes it more challenging for us to identify and successfully capitalize on opportunities that meet our objectives. Our ability to compete is also impacted by national and local economic trends, availability of investment alternatives, availability and cost of capital, our financial condition, construction and renovation costs, existing laws and regulations, new legislation and population trends.
Taxation of Omega
Omega elected to be taxed as a REIT, under Sections 856 through 860 of the Code, beginning with our taxable year ended December 31, 1992. To continue to qualify as a REIT, we must continue to meet certain tests that, among other things, generally require that our assets consist primarily of real estate assets, our income be derived primarily from real estate assets, and that we distribute at least 90% of our REIT taxable income (other than net capital gains) to our stockholders annually. Provided we maintain our qualification as a REIT, we generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income taxes at the corporate level on our net income to the extent such net income is distributed to our stockholders annually. Even if we continue to qualify as a REIT, we will continue to be subject to certain federal, state and local taxes on our income and property. We believe that we were organized and have operated in such a manner as to qualify for taxation as a REIT. We intend to continue to operate in a manner that will allow us to maintain our qualification as a REIT, but no assurance can be given that we have operated or will be able to continue to operate in a manner so as to qualify or remain qualified as a REIT.
We have utilized, and may continue to utilize, one or more taxable REIT subsidiaries (“TRS”) to engage in activities that REITs may be prohibited from performing, including the provision of management and other services to third parties and the conduct of certain nonqualifying real estate transactions. Our TRSs generally are taxable as regular corporations, and therefore, subject to federal, foreign, state and local income taxes.
To the extent that we do not distribute all of our net capital gain or distribute at least 90%, but less than 100% of our “REIT taxable income,” as adjusted, we will be subject to tax thereon at regular corporate rates. If we were to fail to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, as a result of a determination that we failed to meet the annual distribution requirement or otherwise, we would be subject to federal and state income tax, and any applicable alternative minimum tax on our taxable income at regular corporate rates with respect to each such taxable year for which the statute of limitations remains open. In addition, even if we continue to qualify as a REIT, we could become subject to certain excise taxes. Moreover, unless entitled to relief under certain statutory provisions, we also would be disqualified from treatment as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which qualification is lost. This treatment would significantly reduce our net earnings and cash flow because of our additional tax liability for the years involved, which could significantly impact our financial condition.
All of our investments are held directly or through entities owned by Omega OP. Omega OP is a pass through entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and therefore we are required to take into account our allocable share of each item of Omega OP’s income, gain, loss, deduction, and credit for any taxable year of Omega OP ending within or with our taxable year, without regard to whether we have received or will receive any distribution from Omega OP. Although a partnership agreement for pass through entities generally will determine the allocation of income and losses among partners, such allocations will be disregarded for tax purposes if they do not comply with the provisions of the Code and Treasury Regulations governing partnership allocations. If an allocation is not recognized for federal income tax purposes, the item subject to the allocation will be reallocated in accordance with the partners’ interests in the partnership, which will be determined by considering all the facts and circumstances relating to the economic arrangement of the partners with respect to such item. While Omega OP should generally not be a taxable entity for federal income tax purposes, any state or local revenue, excise or franchise taxes that result from the operating activities of the Omega OP may be incurred at the entity level.
Investors are strongly urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the potential tax consequences of an investment in us based on such investor’s particular circumstances.
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Government Regulation and Reimbursement
The healthcare industry is heavily regulated. Our operators, which are primarily based in the U.S., are subject to extensive and complex federal, state and local healthcare laws and regulations; we also have several U.K.-based operators which are subject to a variety of laws and regulations in their jurisdiction. These laws and regulations are subject to frequent and substantial changes resulting from the adoption of new legislation, rules and regulations, and administrative and judicial interpretations of existing law. The ultimate timing or effect of these changes, which may be applied retroactively, cannot be predicted. Changes in laws and regulations impacting our operators, in addition to regulatory non-compliance by our operators, can have a significant effect on the operations and financial condition of our operators, which in turn may adversely impact us. There is the potential that we may be subject directly to healthcare laws and regulations because of the broad nature of some of these regulations, such as the Anti-kickback Statute and False Claims Act, among others.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) declared a public health emergency on January 31, 2020 following the World Health Organization's decision to declare COVID-19 a public health emergency of international concern. This declaration, which has been extended through its scheduled expiration date of May 11, 2023, allows HHS to provide temporary regulatory waivers and new reimbursement rules, such as a temporary increase in the Medicaid Federal Medical Assistance Percentage and other rules designed to equip providers with flexibility to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic by suspending various Medicare patient coverage criteria and documentation and care requirements, including, for example, suspension of the three-day prior hospital stay coverage requirement and expanding the list of approved services which may be provided via telehealth. The three-day prior hospital stay waiver was a significant benefit to the skilled nursing industry during the height of the pandemic, as the reimbursement associated with the ability to skill in place helped to offset some of the increased costs connected with managing the pandemic. These regulatory actions have contributed, and may continue to contribute, to a change in census volumes and skilled nursing mix that may not otherwise have occurred. The public health emergency declaration is scheduled to terminate on May 11, 2023; however, it remains uncertain whether and/or when federal and state regulators will resume enforcement of those regulations which have waived or otherwise not been enforced during the public health emergency due to the exercise of enforcement discretion.
These temporary changes to regulations and reimbursement, as well as emergency legislation, including the CARES Act enacted on March 27, 2020 and discussed below, have had a significant impact on the operations and financial condition of our operators. The extent of the COVID-19 pandemic’s continued effect, including through prolonged labor shortages, slow occupancy recovery, and expense increases, on the Company’s and our operators’ operational and financial performance will depend on future developments, including the recovery in occupancy and availability of labor, the ability of our operators to manage the impact of the termination of public health emergency and temporary relief thereunder, the sufficiency and timeliness of additional governmental relief and reimbursement rate setting in offsetting cost increases, and the continued efficacy of vaccination, treatment and infection control programs relating to COVID-19, all of which developments and impacts are uncertain and difficult to predict and may continue to adversely impact our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
A significant portion of our operators’ revenue is derived from government-funded reimbursement programs, consisting primarily of Medicare and Medicaid. As federal and state governments continue to focus on healthcare reform initiatives, efforts to reduce costs by government payors will likely continue. Significant limits on the scope of services reimbursed and/or reductions of reimbursement rates could therefore have a material adverse effect on our operators’ results of operations and financial condition. Additionally, new and evolving payor and provider programs that are tied to quality and efficiency could adversely impact our tenants’ and operators’ liquidity, financial condition or results of operations, and there can be no assurance that payments under any of these government healthcare programs are currently, or will be in the future, sufficient to fully reimburse the property operators for their operating and capital expenses. In addition to quality and value-based reimbursement reforms, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) has implemented a number of initiatives focused on the reporting of certain facility specific quality of care indicators that could affect our operators, including publicly released quality ratings for all of the nursing homes that participate in Medicare or Medicaid under the CMS “Five Star Quality Rating System.” Facility rankings, ranging from five stars (“much above average”) to one star (“much below average”) are updated on a monthly basis. SNFs are required to provide information for the CMS Nursing Home Compare website regarding staffing and quality measures. These rating changes have impacted referrals to SNFs, and it is possible that changes to this system or other ranking systems could lead to future reimbursement policies that reward or penalize facilities on the basis of the reported quality of care parameters.
The following is a discussion of certain U.S. laws and regulations generally applicable to our operators, and in certain cases, to us.
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Reimbursement Changes Related to COVID-19:
U.S. Federal Stimulus Funds and Financial Assistance for Healthcare Providers . In response to the pandemic, Congress has enacted a series of economic stimulus and relief measures. On March 18, 2020, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”) was enacted in the U.S., providing a temporary 6.2% increase to each qualifying state and territory’s Medicaid Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (“FMAP”) effective January 1, 2020. The temporary FMAP increase was set to extend through the last day of the calendar quarter in which the public health emergency terminates. In exchange for receiving the enhanced federal funding, the FFCRA included a requirement that Medicaid programs keep beneficiaries enrolled through the end of the month in which the public health emergency terminates. However, as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 signed into law on December 29, 2022, Congress decoupled the Medicaid continuous enrollment from the public health emergency and terminates this provision effective March 31, 2023. Additionally, starting April 1, 2023, states that comply with federal rules regarding conducting renewals may begin the phase-down of the enhanced federal funding according to the following schedule: 6.2 percentage points through March 2023; 5 percentage points through June 2023; 2.5 percentage points through September 2023 and 1.5 percentage points through December 2023. States cannot restrict eligibility standards, methodologies, and procedures and states cannot increase premiums as required in FFCRA. Primarily due to the continuous enrollment provision, Medicaid enrollment has grown substantially compared to before the pandemic and the uninsured rate has dropped. The extent to which this increase in Medicaid enrollment is sustained following the discontinuation of the continuous enrollment provision is uncertain.
In further response to the pandemic, the CARES Act authorized approximately $178 billion to be distributed through the Provider Relief Fund to reimburse eligible healthcare providers for healthcare related expenses or lost revenues that were attributable to coronavirus. Funds have been allocated since 2020 in targeted and general distributions, the latter over four phases. In September 2021, HHS announced the release of $25.5 billion in phase four provider funding, including $17 billion of the $178 billion previously authorized through the CARES Act and $8.5 billion for rural providers, including those with Medicaid and Medicare patients, through the American Rescue Plan Act, with payments that began in December 2021. The Provider Relief Fund is administered under the broad authority and discretion of HHS and recipients are not required to repay distributions received to the extent they are used in compliance with applicable requirements. HHS continues to evaluate and provide allocations of, and issue regulation and guidance regarding, grants made under the CARES Act. We do not expect our operators will receive additional funding from HHS.
The CARES Act and related legislation also made other forms of financial assistance available to healthcare providers, which have the potential to impact our operators to varying degrees. This assistance includes Medicare and Medicaid payment adjustments and an expansion of the Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payment Program, which made available accelerated payments of Medicare funds in order to increase cash flow to providers. These payments are loans that providers were scheduled to repay beginning one year from the issuance date of each provider’s or supplier’s accelerated or advance payment, with repayment made through automatic recoupment of 25% of Medicare payments otherwise owed to the provider or supplier for eleven months, followed by an increase to 50% for another six months, after which any outstanding balance would be repaid subject to an interest rate of 4%. We believe these repayments commenced for many of our operators in April 2021 and have adversely impacted operating cash flows of these operators. While not limited to healthcare providers, the CARES Act additionally provided payroll tax relief for employers, allowing them to defer payment of employer Social Security taxes that are otherwise owed for wage payments made after March 27, 2020 through December 31, 2020 to December 31, 2021 with respect to 50% of the payroll taxes owed, with the remaining 50% deferred until December 31, 2022.
The Budget Control Act of 2011 established a Medicare Sequestration of 2%, which is an automatic reduction of certain federal spending as a budget enforcement tool. Originally, the sequester was supposed to be in effect from FY 2013 to FY 2021. However, most recently, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act extended the sequester through FY 2031. Additional legislation, including the CARES Act and the Protecting Medicare and American Farmers Act, suspended the application of the sequester to Medicare from May 1, 2020 through March 30, 2022. It also limited Medicare reductions to 1% from April 1, 2022 through June 30, 2022. The full 2% Medicare sequestration went into effect as of July 1, 2022. The sequestration is currently extended through fiscal year 2031, and gradually increases to 4% from 2030 through 2031.
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Quality of Care Initiatives and Additional Requirements Related to COVID-19 . In addition to COVID-19 reimbursement changes, several regulatory initiatives announced from 2020 to 2022 focused on addressing quality of care in long-term care facilities, including those related to COVID-19 testing and infection control protocols, vaccine protocols, staffing levels, reporting requirements, and visitation policies, as well as increased inspection of nursing homes. In August 2021, CMS announced it was developing an emergency regulation requiring staff vaccinations within the nation’s more than 15,000 Medicare and Medicaid-participating nursing homes, and in September 2021, CMS further announced that the scope of the regulation would be expanded to include workers in hospitals, dialysis facilities, ambulatory surgical settings, and home health agencies. In addition, recent updates to the Nursing Home Care website and the Five Star Quality Rating System include revisions to the inspection process, adjustment of staffing rating thresholds, the implementation of new quality measures and the inclusion of a staff turnover percentage (over a 12-month period). Although the American Rescue Plan Act did not allocate specific funds directly to SNF or ALF providers, certain funds were allocated to states who then distributed a portion of these funds to SNF and ALF providers. In addition, the American Rescue Plan Act allocated funds to quality improvement organizations to provide infection control and vaccination uptake support to SNFs and to the CDC for staffing, training and deployment of state-based nursing home and long-term care “strike teams” to assist facilities with known or suspected COVID-19 outbreaks. Additionally, the Biden Administration announced a focus on implementing minimum staffing requirements and increased inspections as part of the nursing home reforms announced in the 2022 State of the Union Address, and in July 2022, CMS announced it was evaluating a proposed federal staffing mandate for SNFs. It is uncertain whether such a mandate will be implemented and, if it is, whether it will be accompanied by additional funding to offset any increased staffing requirements for our operators; an unfunded mandate to increase staff in SNFs may have a material and adverse impact on the financial condition of our operators.
On June 16, 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis announced the launch of an investigation into the COVID-19 response of nursing homes and the use of federal funds by nursing homes during the pandemic. The Select Subcommittee continued to be active throughout the remainder of 2020, 2021 and 2022. In March 2021, the Oversight Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee held a hearing on examining the impact of private equity in the U.S. healthcare system, including the impact on quality of care provided within the skilled nursing industry. The Biden Administration additionally announced in March 2022 a focus on reviewing private equity investment specifically in the skilled nursing sector. These initiatives, as well as additional calls for government review of the role of private equity in the U.S. healthcare industry, could result in additional requirements on our operators.
Reimbursement Generally:
Medicaid . Most of our SNF operators derive a substantial portion of their revenue from state Medicaid programs. Whether and to what extent the level of Medicaid reimbursement covers the actual cost to care for a Medicaid eligible resident varies by state. While periodic rate setting occurs and, in most cases, has an inflationary component, the state rate setting process not always keep pace with inflation or, even if it does, there is a risk that is may still not be sufficient to cover all or a substantial portion of the cost to care for Medicaid eligible residents. Additionally, rate setting is also subject to changes based on state budgetary constraints and political factors, both of which could result in decreased or insufficient reimbursement to the industry even in an environment where costs are rising. Since our operators’ profit margins on Medicaid patients are generally relatively low, more than modest reductions in Medicaid reimbursement or an increase in the percentage of Medicaid patients has in the past, and may in the future, adversely affect our operators’ results of operations and financial condition, which in turn could adversely impact us.
The CARES Act and American Rescue Plan Act contained several provisions designed to increase coverage, expand benefits, and adjust federal financing for state Medicaid programs. While the CARES Act provided for a 6.2% FMAP add-on to the Medicaid program during the PHE, only certain states passed any of that specifically on to SNF operators either via an enhanced rate or lump sum payments. Additionally, the American Rescue Plan Act provided for a 10% FMAP add-on for state home and community-based service expenditures from April 1, 2021 through March 30, 2022 in an effort to assist seniors and people with disabilities to receive services safely in the community rather than in nursing homes and other congregate care settings. Both of these programs came with conditions that states had to meet to eligible for the FMAP add-on. There may be future initiatives proposed to allocate funding available for reimbursement away from SNFs in favor of home health agencies and community-based care.
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The risks of insufficient Medicaid reimbursement rates along with possible initiatives to push residents historically cared for in SNFs to alternative settings may impact us more acutely in states where we have a larger presence, including Florida and Texas, our states with the largest concentration of investments. In Texas several of our operators have historically experienced lower operating margins on their SNFs, as compared to other states, as a result of lower Medicaid reimbursement rates and higher labor costs. The state did provide for a sizeable increase in rate during the PHE based on the FMAP add-on; however, there is a risk that this increase won’t be captured in normal rate setting when the FMAP add-on expires. In Florida, added support to our operators during the pandemic has generally been limited, with approximately $100 million in additional FMAP funds announced in November 2021, payable over a three-month period through increased Medicaid rates. In March 2022, a revised state budget for 2022-23, which took effect October 1, 2022, increased Medicaid reimbursement rates by 7.8% to fund, in part, increased wages for certain nursing home staff. In addition, on April 6, 2022, the State of Florida enacted staffing reforms for SNFs that may provide additional flexibility to our operators in meeting minimum staffing requirements by using supplemental staff. We continue to monitor rate adjustment activity in other states in which we have a meaningful presence, and it is too early to assess whether rates will generally keep pace with increased operator costs.
Medicare . On July 29, 2022, CMS issued a final rule regarding the government fiscal year 2023 Medicare payment rates and quality payment programs for SNFs, with aggregate Medicare Part A payments projected to increase by $904 million, or 2.7%, for fiscal year 2023 compared to fiscal year 2022. This estimated reimbursement increase is attributable to a 3.9% market basket increase factor plus a 1.5 percentage point market basket forecast error adjustment and less a 0.3 percentage point productivity adjustment, as well as a $780 million decrease in the SNF prospective payment system rates as a result of the recalibrated parity adjustment described below, which is being phased in over two years. The annual update is reduced by two percentage points for SNFs that fail to submit required quality data to CMS under the SNF Quality Reporting Program. CMS has indicated that these impact figures did not incorporate the SNF Value-Based Program reductions that are estimated to be $186 million in fiscal year 2023. While Medicare reimbursement rate setting, which takes effect annually each October, has historically included forecasted inflationary adjustments, the degree to which those forecasts accurately reflect current inflation rates remains uncertain. Additionally, it remains uncertain whether these adjustments will ultimately be offset by non-inflationary factors, including any adjustments related to the impact of various payment models, such as those described below.
Payments to providers continue to be increasingly tied to quality and efficiency. The Patient Driven Payment Model (“PDPM”), which was designed by CMS to improve the incentives to treat the needs of the whole patient, became effective October 1, 2019. CMS has stated that it intended PDPM to be revenue-neutral to operators, with future Medicare reimbursement reductions possible if that was not the case. In April 2022, CMS issued a proposal for comment, which included an adjustment to obtain that revenue neutrality as early as the 2023 rate setting period. After considering the feedback received in the rulemaking cycle, CMS finalized recalibration of the PDPM parity adjustment factor of 4.6% with a two-year phase-in period that would reduce SNF spending by 2.3%, or approximately $780 million, in each of fiscal years 2023 and 2024. Prior to COVID-19, we believed that certain of our operators could realize efficiencies and cost savings from increased concurrent and group therapy under PDPM and some had reported early positive results. Given the ongoing impacts of COVID-19, many operators are and may continue to be restricted from pursuing concurrent and group therapy and unable to realize these benefits. Additionally, our operators continue to adapt to the reimbursement changes and other payment reforms resulting from the value-based purchasing programs applicable to SNFs under the 2014 Protecting Access to Medicare Act. These reimbursement changes have had and may, together with any further reimbursement changes to PDPM or value-based purchasing models, in the future have an adverse effect on the operations and financial condition of some operators and could adversely impact the ability of operators to meet their obligations to us.
On May 27, 2020, CMS added physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech-language pathology to the list of approved telehealth Providers for the Medicare Part B programs provided by a SNF as a part of the COVID-19 1135 waiver provisions. The COVID-19 1135 waiver provisions also allow for the facility to bill an originating site fee to CMS for telehealth services provided to Medicare Part B beneficiary residents of the facility when the services are provided by a physician from an alternate location, effective March 6, 2020 through May 11, 2023, the scheduled end of the public health emergency.
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Other Regulation:
Office of the Inspector General Activities . The Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) of HHS has provided long-standing guidance for SNFs regarding compliance with federal fraud and abuse laws. More recently, the OIG has conducted increased oversight activities and issued additional guidance regarding its findings related to identified problems with the quality of care and the reporting and investigation of potential abuse or neglect at group homes, nursing homes and SNFs. The OIG has additionally reviewed the staffing levels reported by SNFs as part of its August 2018 and February 2019 Work Plan updates, and included a review of involuntary transfers and discharges from nursing homes in the June 2019 Work Plan updates. In August 2020, the OIG released its findings regarding its review of staffing levels in SNFs from 2018. The OIG recommended that CMS enhance efforts to ensure nursing homes meet daily staffing requirements and explore ways to provide consumers with additional information on nursing homes’ daily staffing levels and variability. The OIG indicated that while the review was initiated before the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, the pandemic reinforces the importance of sufficient staffing for nursing homes, as inadequate staffing can make it more difficult for nursing homes to respond to infectious disease outbreaks like COVID-19. It is unknown what impact, if any, enhanced scrutiny of staffing levels by OIG and CMS will have on our operators.
Department of Justice and Other Enforcement Actions . SNFs are under intense scrutiny for ensuring the quality of care being rendered to residents and appropriate billing practices conducted by the facility. The Department of Justice (“DOJ”) has historically used the False Claims Act to civilly pursue nursing homes that bill the federal government for services not rendered or care that is grossly substandard. For example, California prosecutors announced in March 2021 an investigation into a skilled nursing provider that is affiliated with one of our operators, alleging the chain manipulated the submission of staffing level data in order to improve its Five Star rating. In 2020, the DOJ launched a National Nursing Home Initiative to coordinate and enhance civil and criminal enforcement actions against nursing homes with grossly substandard deficiencies. Such enforcement activities are unpredictable and may develop over lengthy periods of time. An adverse resolution of any of these enforcement activities or investigations incurred by our operators may involve injunctive relief and/or substantial monetary penalties, either or both of which could have a material adverse effect on their reputation, business, results of operations and cash flows.
Medicare and Medicaid Program Audits . Governmental agencies and their agents, such as the Medicare Administrative Contractors, fiscal intermediaries and carriers, as well as the OIG, CMS and state Medicaid programs, conduct audits of our operators’ billing practices from time to time. CMS contracts with Recovery Audit Contractors on a contingency basis to conduct post-payment reviews to detect and correct improper payments in the fee-for-service Medicare program, to managed Medicare plans and in the Medicaid program. Regional Recovery Audit Contractor program auditors along with the OIG and DOJ are expected to continue their efforts to evaluate SNF Medicare claims for any excessive therapy charges. CMS also employs Medicaid Integrity Contractors to perform post-payment audits of Medicaid claims and identify overpayments. In addition, the state Medicaid agencies and other contractors have increased their review activities. To the extent any of our operators are found out of compliance with any of these laws, regulations or programs, their financial position and results of operations can be adversely impacted, which in turn could adversely impact us.
Fraud and Abuse . There are various federal and state civil and criminal laws and regulations governing a wide array of healthcare provider referrals, relationships and arrangements, including laws and regulations prohibiting fraud by healthcare providers. Many of these complex laws raise issues that have not been clearly interpreted by the relevant governmental authorities and courts.
These laws include: (i) federal and state false claims acts, which, among other things, prohibit providers from filing false claims or making false statements to receive payment from Medicare, Medicaid or other federal or state healthcare programs; (ii) federal and state anti-kickback and fee-splitting statutes, including the Medicare and Medicaid Anti-kickback statute, which prohibit the payment or receipt of remuneration to induce referrals or recommendations of healthcare items or services, such as services provided in a SNF; (iii) federal and state physician self-referral laws (commonly referred to as the Stark Law), which generally prohibit referrals by physicians to entities for designated health services (some of which are provided in SNFs) with which the physician or an immediate family member has a financial relationship; (iv) the federal Civil Monetary Penalties Law, which prohibits, among other things, the knowing presentation of a false or fraudulent claim for certain healthcare services and (v) federal and state privacy laws, including the privacy and security rules contained in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, which provide for the privacy and security of personal health information.
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Violations of healthcare fraud and abuse laws carry civil, criminal and administrative sanctions, including punitive sanctions, monetary penalties, imprisonment, denial of Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement and potential exclusion from Medicare, Medicaid or other federal or state healthcare programs. Additionally, there are criminal provisions that prohibit filing false claims or making false statements to receive payment or certification under Medicare and Medicaid, as well as failing to refund overpayments or improper payments. Violation of the Anti-kickback statute or Stark Law may form the basis for a federal False Claims Act violation. These laws are enforced by a variety of federal, state and local agencies and can also be enforced by private litigants through, among other things, federal and state false claims acts, which allow private litigants to bring qui tam or whistleblower actions, which have become more frequent in recent years.
Several of our operators have responded to subpoenas and other requests for information regarding their operations in connection with inquiries by the DOJ or other regulatory agencies. In addition, MedEquities Realty Trust, Inc., which we acquired in May 2019, received a Civil Investigative Demand from the DOJ in connection with Lakeway Regional Medical Center, and in November 2022, the Company and several of its affiliates entered into a settlement agreement relating to such demand.
Privacy . Our operators are subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations designed to protect the confidentiality and security of patient health information, including the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended, the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (“HITECH”), and the corresponding regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively referred to herein as “HIPAA”). The HITECH Act expanded the scope of these provisions by mandating individual notification in instances of breaches of protected health information, providing enhanced penalties for HIPAA violations, and granting enforcement authority to states’ Attorneys General in addition to the HHS Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”). Additionally, in a final rule issued in January 2013, HHS modified the standard for determining whether a breach has occurred by creating a presumption that any non-permitted acquisition, access, use or disclosure of protected health information is a breach unless the covered entity or business associate can demonstrate through a risk assessment that there is a low probability that the information has been compromised.
Various states have similar laws and regulations that govern the maintenance and safeguarding of patient records, charts and other information generated in connection with the provision of professional medical services. These laws and regulations require our operators to expend the requisite resources to secure protected health information, including the funding of costs associated with technology upgrades. Operators found in violation of HIPAA or any other privacy law or regulation may face significant monetary penalties. In addition, compliance with an operator’s notification requirements in the event of a breach of unsecured protected health information could cause reputational harm to an operator’s business.
Licensing and Certification . Our operators and facilities are subject to various federal, state and local licensing and certification laws and regulations, including laws and regulations under Medicare and Medicaid requiring operators of SNFs and ALFs to comply with extensive standards governing operations. Governmental agencies administering these laws and regulations regularly inspect our operators’ facilities and investigate complaints. Our operators and their managers receive notices of observed violations and deficiencies from time to time, and sanctions have been imposed from time to time on facilities operated by them. In addition, many states require certain healthcare providers to obtain a certificate of need, which requires prior approval for the construction, expansion or closure of certain healthcare facilities, which has the potential to impact some of our operators’ abilities to expand or change their businesses.
Other Laws and Regulations . Additional federal, state and local laws and regulations affect how our operators conduct their operations, including laws and regulations protecting consumers against deceptive practices and otherwise generally affecting our operators’ management of their property and equipment and the conduct of their operations (including laws and regulations involving fire, health and safety; the Americans with Disabilities Act (the “ADA”), which imposes certain requirements to make facilities accessible to persons with disabilities, the costs for which we may be directly or indirectly responsible; the U.S. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (collectively referred to as the “Healthcare Reform Law”), which amended requirements for staff training, discharge planning, infection prevention and control programs, and pharmacy services, among others; staffing; quality of services, including care and food service; residents’ rights, including abuse and neglect laws; and health standards, including those set by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (in the U.S.). It is anticipated that our operators will continue to face additional federal and state regulatory requirements related to the operation of their facilities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These requirements may continue to evolve and develop over lengthy periods of time.
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General and Professional Liability. Although arbitration agreements have been effective in limiting general and professional liabilities for SNF and long-term care providers, there have been numerous lawsuits in recent years challenging the validity of arbitration agreements in long-term care settings. On July 16, 2019, CMS issued a final rule lifting the prohibition on pre-dispute arbitration agreements offered to residents at the time of admission provided that certain requirements are met. The rule prohibits providers from requiring residents to sign binding arbitration agreements as a condition for receiving care and requires that the agreements specifically grant residents the explicit right to rescind the agreement within thirty calendar days of signing. A number of professional liability and employment related claims have been filed or are threatened to be filed against long-term care providers related to COVID-19. While such claims may be subject to liability protection provisions within various state executive orders or legislation and/or federal legislation, an adverse resolution of any of legal proceeding or investigations against our operators may involve injunctive relief and/or substantial monetary penalties, either or both of which could have a material adverse effect on our operators’ reputation, business, results of operations and cash flows.
U.K. Regulations. The U.K. also imposes very high levels of regulation on our U.K.-based operators. In England, where all of our operators are based, the Care Quality Commission has regulatory oversight authority over the health and social care sectors and is responsible for approving, registering and inspecting our operators and the properties where they provide services. There is also a detailed legislative and regulatory framework in the U.K. designed to protect the vulnerable (whether by virtue of age or physical and/or mental impairment) and to prevent abuse. Each of these regulatory regimes carries significant enforcement powers, including the ability to criminally prosecute offending operators and facilities, impose fines or revoke registrations. Additionally, under the purview of the Competition and Markets Authority, local authorities are tasked with providing and funding the care needs of eligible residents within the applicable local authority area. There is ongoing debate and uncertainty within the U.K. as to how growing care needs will be met and funded in the future, and it is not clear at this stage what, if any, or the extent of such, impact will be on our U.K-based operators.
Additionally, there has been significant legislation passed and guidance issued in the U.K. in respect of the COVID-19 pandemic. Much of the legislation or guidance set out the additional precautions, measures or restrictions which were required in the care sector, including infection control measures and vaccination requirements for care sector workers. As the U.K. transitions to a post-COVID-19 pandemic position with lessened regulation across the U.K as a whole, the care sector remains subject to specific COVID-19 guidance and requirements issued by the Care Quality Commission and the U.K. government’s Department for Health and Social Care, including in relation to infection control measures, the use of personal protective equipment and testing. As a result, our U.K. operators still face significantly increased regulatory burdens under which they must deliver services and continue to experience significant impacts on their operations and financial condition, which has been somewhat offset by the level of stimulus provided.
Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”)
We prioritize environmental, social and governance initiatives that matter most to our business and shareholders. Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of our Board of Directors has been charged with primary oversight of our sustainability efforts. The Company has established an ESG Steering Committee, with senior representation from all divisions of the company, that is responsible for advancing the Company’s governance, sustainability, and social programs, including diversity and inclusion. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee exercises oversight of the ESG Steering Committee.
As a triple-net landlord, our third-party operators maintain operational control and responsibility for our real estate on a day-to-day basis. While our ability to mandate environmental changes to their operations is limited, our tenants are contractually bound to preserve and maintain our properties in good working order and condition. In connection with this, they are required to meet or exceed annual expenditure thresholds on capital improvements and enhancements of our properties, which in some cases may facilitate improvements in the environmental performance of our properties and reduces energy usage, water usage, and direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions. Beginning in 2021, we have also implemented a capital expenditure sustainability initiative to encourage operators to invest in financially beneficial and environmentally enhancing investment projects. The goal is to incentivize operators to invest in sustainable capital projects that provide a favorable return on investment while reducing the environmental footprint of these operations. Our due diligence on real estate acquisitions generally includes environmental assessments as part of our analysis to understand the environmental condition of the property, and to determine whether the property meets certain environmental standards. Similarly, during the due diligence process, we seek to evaluate the risk of physical, natural disaster or extreme weather patterns on the properties we are looking to acquire and to assess their compliance with building codes, which often results in remediations that incorporate sustainable improvements into our properties.
We are committed to providing a positive and engaging work environment for our employees and taking an active role in the betterment of the communities in which our employees live and work. See also “Human Capital Management” immediately below.
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Additional information regarding our ESG programs and initiatives is available in the ESG section of our website at www.omegahealthcare.com. Information on our website, including our Corporate ESG Report or sections thereof, is not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report.
Human Capital Management
Our success is based on the focused passion and dedication of our people. We believe our employees’ commitment to Omega provides better service to our tenants and stakeholders, supports an inclusive and collegial working environment and generates long-term value for our shareholders and the communities which we serve. As of February 1, 2023, we had 52 employees including the executive officers listed below, none of whom is subject to a collective bargaining agreement. Due to the size and nature of our business, our future performance depends to a significant degree upon the continued contributions of our executive management team and other key employees. As such, the ability to attract, develop and retain qualified personnel will continue to be important to the Company’s long-term success.
We have a long-standing commitment to being an equal opportunity employer. Additionally, in 2021, we reinforced our diversity and inclusion commitment by signing the CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion Pledge, one of the largest CEO-driven business commitments to act on and advance diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace. The Company has expanded its recruitment practices to reach more diverse candidates for employment and Board positions and has developed an internship program with a focus on increasing diversity in the pipeline of eligible employees. The Company requires employees and Board members to certify its Code of Business Conduct & Ethics periodically, and from time to time, conducts compliance training for all employees and Directors, including diversity and inclusion training. As of February 1, 2023, at the executive level, one of the Company’s four executive officers is a woman and brings ethnic diversity to the team, and on the senior management team, 25% are women and 25% bring ethnic diversity to the team. We regularly conduct pay equity reviews as we seek for women and men, on average, at various roles and levels of the Company, to be paid equitably for their roles and contributions to our success.
We are committed to providing a positive and engaging work environment for our employees and taking an active role in the betterment of the communities in which our employees live and work. Our full-time employees are provided a competitive benefits program, including comprehensive healthcare benefits and a 401(k) plan with a matching contribution from the Company, the opportunity to participate in our employee stock purchase program, bonus and incentive pay opportunities, competitive paid time-off benefits and paid parental leave, wellness programs, continuing education and development opportunities, and periodic engagement surveys. In addition, we believe that giving back to our community is an extension of our mission to improve the lives of our stockholders, our employees, and their families. The Company has implemented a matching program for charitable contributions of employees, provides annual charitable donations to our local Baltimore community and has implemented a scholarship, mentorship and internship program with a local, historically Black university.
Information about our Executive Officers
Biographical information regarding our executive officers and their ages as of February 1, 2023 are set forth below:
C. Taylor Pickett (61) is our Chief Executive Officer and has served in this capacity since June 2001. Mr. Pickett has also served as Director of the Company since May 30, 2002. Mr. Pickett has also been a member of the board of trustees of Corporate Office Properties Trust, an office REIT focusing on U.S. government agencies and defense contractors, since November 2013. From January 1993 to June 2001, Mr. Pickett served as a member of the senior management team of Integrated Health Services, Inc., most recently as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining Integrated Health Services, Inc. Mr. Pickett held various positions at PHH Corporation and KPMG Peat Marwick.
Daniel J. Booth (59) is our Chief Operating Officer and has served in this capacity since October 2001. From 1993 to October 2001, Mr. Booth served as a member of the management team of Integrated Health Services, Inc., most recently serving as Senior Vice President, Finance. Prior to joining Integrated Health Services, Inc., Mr. Booth served as a Vice President in the Healthcare Lending Division of Maryland National Bank (now Bank of America).
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Robert O. Stephenson (59) is our Chief Financial Officer and has served in this capacity since August 2001. From 1996 to July 2001, Mr. Stephenson served as the Senior Vice President and Treasurer of Integrated Health Services, Inc. Prior to joining Integrated Health Services, Inc., Mr. Stephenson held various positions at CSX Intermodal, Inc., Martin Marietta Corporation and Electronic Data Systems.
Gail D. Makode (47) is our Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel and has served in this capacity since September 2019. Previously, she served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of IES Holdings, Inc., from October 2012 to September 2019. Prior to IES, she served in various legal capacities at MBIA Inc., including as General Counsel and Member of the Board at MBIA Insurance Corporation and Chief Compliance Officer of MBIA Inc., from 2006 to 2012. Earlier in her career, she served as Vice President and Counsel for Deutsche Bank AG, and as an associate at Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen, & Hamilton, where she specialized in public and private securities offerings and mergers and acquisitions.
Available Information
Our website address is www.omegahealthcare.com. Our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) are available on our website, free of charge, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such materials with, or furnish them to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Additionally, the SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, including us, at www.sec.gov.