Angie’s List is a website best known for consumer reviews of plumbers and similar home improvement companies, but soon it might have a reputation as a go-to source for information about a different type of service: home health care.
Home health care is one of the fastest growing categories on Angie’s List, a company representative recently told The Columbus Dispatch. And Ohio in particular could emerge as a leading market for home care reviews, given that one parent in a Columbus suburb is urging area families to post reviews on the website.
Lisa Ryan’s 32-year-old son has developmental disabilities, and the family has encountered numerous challenges in identifying high-quality home care, she told the Dispatch.
“We desperately need something to make it easier for the consumer,” Ryan said.
Consumers do not have to be members of the site to post reviews, the company told the Dispatch. Providers must register to create their own listings.
The state of Ohio has been in discussions with home care stakeholders to create some sort of consumer satisfaction rating system, an official told the newspaper. However, there are no details as of yet, and public agencies in many instances are prevented from recommending particular agencies due to Medicaid rules.
Consumers soon will have a resource at least for Medicare-certified providers. As of July, the public will be able to access star ratings of Medicare home health agencies compiled by the federal government and posted to the Home Health Compare website. There ultimately will be two star ratings systems, and one will reflect consumer experiences with the providers.
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