Business Briefs: LHC Group, People Inc.

Kentucky Home Health Company Changes Name

Lexington, Kentucky-based Nurses Registry has changed its name to Commonwealth Home Health. The home health provider is owned by parent company, LHC Group Inc. (NASDAQ: LHCG), a national provider of post-acute care services headquartered in Lafayette, Louisiana.

LHC Group acquired the assets of Commonwealth Home Health in a transaction completed December 2015. Commonwealth will continue to provide services to patients from its three locations in Lexington, Richmond and Winchester with the same local home health professionals.

People Inc. Expands Home Care Services

People Inc., the largest non-profit human services provider in western New York, has expanded its home care services in a new contract with Erie County, New York.

The home health operational affiliate of the larger agency, People Home Health Care Services-Certified Inc., provides certified home health care services for seniors and people with disabilities. The provider reaches roughly 12,000 clients across nine counties with revenue over $140 million.

The $250,582 contract was awarded to People Inc. through a competitive request for proposals with the Erie County Department of Social Services. The company’s certified home health aides will provide nurse assessor services for the county’s Medicaid-funded long-term care program, the Community Alternative Systems Agency (CASA). The contract calls on People Inc. to assess homebound patients to assure they are receiving appropriate services for their needs. Three nurses have been hired with the contract, adding to a staff of 26 employees and seven contract workers.

People Inc. has provided specialized home health care services in Erie and Niagara counties for more than 20 years, including skilled nursing, nutrition services, therapies, social work and home heath aide services. The program serves about 700 people.

Compassus Executive Director Named to New Mexico Home & Hospice Committee

Compassus Executive Director Elizabeth Ross, RN, has been named co-chair of the New Mexico Association for Home & Hospice Care Committee (NMAHHC).

Compassus is a hospice and palliative care provider that operates in more than 150 locations across 28 states. NMAHHC works to strengthen the home and hospice care industry in New Mexico through membership and advocacy.

Ross will lead the association’s committee with co-chair David Rodriguez. The committee meets on a quarterly basis to discuss best practices for home care and hospice and advocacy efforts for adequate reimbursement, appropriate regulation and code of ethics.

“I am honored to have this opportunity to co-chair the NMAHHC hospice committee,” Ross said. “I am inspired by the organization’s vision and look forward to having a hand in strengthening the home and hospice care industry in New Mexico.”

CarePine Home Health Opens New Pennsylvania Location

Pennsylvania-based home health care provider CarePine Home Health has opened a new location in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

CarePine is a Medicare and Medicaid-certified home health care services provider that offers nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy and personal care assistance to patients at home. The new branch will provide patient care and senior care to patients residing in Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Whitehall, Quakertown, Nazareth, Kutztown and surrounding areas.

Patrick Regan to Lead HomeCentris Healthcare’s Home Health Business

HomeCentris Healthcare, LLC has appointed Patrick Regan to lead its Medicare-certified home health care business, HomeCentris Home Health, LLC, a company focused on bringing home-based health care to Maryland-based seniors.

Regan will focus his efforts on building the company’s brand around its clinical and patient outcomes, as well as leading its growth throughout the Greater Baltimore area.

“HomeCentris’ clinical outcomes are very good, and we are a Five-Star agency in patient survey results,” Regan said in a statement. “We are positioning the company to be a leader in CMS’ new Value Based Purchasing initiative and are exploring new outcome-based relationships with our hospital and nursing facility partners. I look forward to developing HomeCentris Home Health into an industry leader in the Greater Baltimore area, by providing the best possible experience to our patients, and by chairing clinical outcomes that rival industry benchmarks.”

Allscripts Homecare Merges With Netsmart CareFabric 

In a new venture with GI Partners and Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, Inc., Netsmart will merge the Allscripts Homecare business unit into the Netsmart CareFabric suite of solutions, Netsmart announced. The addition of the home care business boosts Netsmart among the largest human services and post-acute technology provider in health care, according to the company.

Netsmart develops and sells health information technology, including electronic health records (EHR). The merger will enable Allscripts Homecare clients to leverage Netsmart’s range of solutions, services and investments in business efficiencies, clinical innovation and care coordination. The Homecare solution combines business, clinical and scheduling functionality for home health, hospice and private duty. The technology automates processes from engaging in care for patients to billing and accounts receivable.

As a new investor in the center, GI Partners, an alternative investment management firm that manages $12 billion in capital commitments, will provide investments and resources to accelerate Netsmart’s ongoing expansion in the health care technology sector.

Netsmart will now serve more than 24,000 home health, private duty, hospice and human services organizations, including more than 500,000 care providers.

Written by Amy Baxter