The skilled nursing sector could see increased operator consolidation in the coming years, according to an official with the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care.

Senior NIC principal Bill Kauffman predicted in an NIC blog in November that an increasing number of government and payor initiatives may lead to more consolidation.

“It would not be surprising to see a larger operator … look to take over a smaller operator in order to gain market share and increase efficiencies at the corporate and property levels,” Kauffman wrote.