Home Health Care News has covered a broad array of topics in 2013, from health care reform’s effects on the home health industry to Medicare fraud and, perhaps most important of all, expected impact of Medicare cuts on home health providers.
Here is the list of most popular posts of 2013, ending with the most-read article of the year:
10. Medicare Cuts Would Negate Emerging Home Care Trends: NAHC—The National Association for Home Care & Hospice urged policymakers to reconsider Medicare cutbacks in light of what cuts to spending could do to emerging industry trends.
9. Home Care Providers Question Survival Following DME Medicare Cuts—New Medicare pricing for durable medical equipment left the home health industry concerned regarding future sustainability and whether some businesses would be forced to shut down.
8. Largest For-Profit Hospice Provider Sued by DOJ for Medicare Fraud—The Justice Department accused Chemed Corporation, the nation’s largest for-profit hospice chain in the U.S., of fraudulent Medicare billing for hospice and health care services.
7. New Tech Provides Home Health Agencies with Market Competition Insight—A new tech product from PlayMaker CRM enables home health agencies to access data that can help them capture more market share and develop marketing strategies.
6. Home Health Co-Pays Proposed in Obama Budget, Services “At Risk”—The Obama Administration’s fiscal year 2014 budget proposes per-episode co-pays for home health services.
5. Obamacare a Driver for Robust Home Health Industry M&A Activity in 2013—Health care reform was a big factor in 2013 merger and acquisition activity in the home health industry as providers partnered to expand networks and business lines.
4. Inc. Magazine Names Eight Home Care Agencies as Fastest-Growing Companies—Based on a three-year growth rate, eight home care agencies were recognized among the fastest-growing companies in the nation in Inc. 5000’s 32nd annual list.
3. Humana Launches Home Care Business, Closes SeniorBridge Acquisition—Major health insurer Humana entered the home care business with the acquisition of a care management company.
2. CMS Redefines ‘Homebound’ for Medicare-Eligible Services—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services clarified its definition of ‘homebound’ regarding eligibility for Medicare-reimbursable care.
1. Home Health Care Providers “Unfairly Impacted” By Sequestration Cuts—The 2% cut in Medicare reimbursements to health care providers disproportionately affected home health agencies, which had already been experiencing steady rate cuts in the past few years.
Editor’s note: The top stories list is based on traffic data received on Home Health Care News content compiled beginning on January 1, 2013.
