Many in the long-term care community are supporting the Care Transitions Project, a government initiative to improve healthcare processes and minimize rehospitalizations.

"Given the important and growing role skilled nursing facilities play in delivering post-acute care to Medicare beneficiaries, we support this pilot and look forward to working with CMS to bring about the changes needed to strengthen seniors' care into the 21st Century,” said Alan Rosenbloom, president of the Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care.

Along with the Alliance, the American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living expressed approval of the pilot project, which will work to make smoother a patient's transition from the hospital to a skilled nursing facility, or home. Providers are urging Congress and the Obama administration to incorporate long-term care and post-acute care reform as part of a larger healthcare reform effort. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said Monday that 14 communities have been selected to participate in the initiative.