Untangling The History, Causes Behind The Precipitous Home Health Aide Utilization Drop

In the last home health proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the federal agency in charge of reimbursement rates sent out a request for information on home health aide utilization. Specifically, the agency wondered why Medicare-covered home health aide visits and utilization had fallen off a cliff over the last […]

The Path For Occupational Therapy To Lose Its ‘Second-Tier’ Status In Home Health Care

If a senior or homebound patient is eligible for home health care, there are a number of caregiving professionals who can open a case and begin an assessment. Those include nurses, physical therapists and others. One profession that is not on that list is an occupational therapist. However, a new proposed bill could change that. […]

NAHC, NHPCO Announce Transition Board Ahead Of Potential Merger

The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) and National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) merger took another step forward this week as the two associations announced the creation of a transitional board that will usher in a combined organization. The new board will oversee the transition to a new, consolidated organization if, […]

NAHC, NHPCO Merger Remains On ‘Aggressive Timeline’

In October, National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) President William A. Dombi announced that his organization and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) were planning to merge. The plan came with what Dombi described as an “aggressive timeline,” hoping the merger would be done by 2024. “It’s an aggressive timeline even […]

For Home Health Providers, Interoperability ‘Wins’ Have Become Crucial For Referral Relationships, Bottom Lines

For patients and providers, working through the post-acute health care system in the U.S. is a tall task. It often involves a wide range of providers and vendors. There’s lots of talk around interoperability in these circles, but that goal of seamless coordination is generally not met on the ground. Generally, interoperability refers to the […]

‘Applying Resources In Wrong Bucket’: Home Health Providers See Review Choice Demonstration As Yet Another Burden

The mission of all home health agencies is to improve patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes, at least in part. Some of those providers do not feel like the Review Choice Demonstration (RCD) is helping in either of those areas. “With the extra burden that you have that comes with RCD, it really hasn’t changed or […]

Lawmakers Seeking To Block Home Health Medicare Cuts

The Preserving Access to Home Health Act of 2023 was introduced Thursday. Its largest objective is to prevent further cuts to home health payments in 2024 and beyond. The bill, if passed, would also strip the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of some of its payment-rate setting power and force the The Medicare […]