Here are the top headlines grabbing readers’ attention this week, plus other notable stories from around the web that caught our eye here at HHCN:
Most Read
In These Tech-Savvy Cities, It Pays to Age at Home – Redfin ranked the top 10 cities where smartphone applications are enabling older adults to stay in their homes longer. A recent report revealed that 90 percent of adults 65 and older want to remain in their homes as long as possible throughout retirement. For those living in cities that offer the top five technology-based services – Uber, Instacart, CareLinx, Rover and Porch – it may be cheaper to receive home health care than move into assisted living, Redfin found.
Undercover Operation Nabs home Health CEO Accused of Fraud – CEO of Home Physician Services LLC, Henry Smilie was arrested following charges of Medicare fraud of $1.2 million between 2012 and 2014. The arrest came after a federal undercover operation of the Chicago-based CEO, who faces up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000,
Hillary Clinton Weighs in on ‘Shake Up’ for Home Health Care – Hillary Clinton joined the national conversation over home health care service needs by supporting in-home care workers for long-term care solutions and advocating for higher pay and benefits. She noted that Medicaid could be “saved” by folks staying in their homes longer.
Weekend Reads
Startups Vie to Build an Uber for Health Care – The Wall Street Journal reported that the sharing economy has spread to the health care industry, bringing the experience of a doctor’s visit into the home through smartphone apps. From a video chat with a registered nurse for a low charge of $50 to at-home doctor visits within an hour, cities all over the U.S. are using mobile-medical technology for on-demand health care services
Reinventing Home Health – Medicare home health agencies are receiving a new message from The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services: innovate or die. CMS announced a value-based reimbursement (VBR) pilot program as part of the 2016 Home Health Prospective Payment System and hopes to improve patient experience and weed out poorly performing health agencies.
Chart of the week
Home Health Stock Index Hits All-Time High – One measure of home health stock performance showed another big improvement, hitting a record high for July. The Stonebridge Partners Home Health Index jumped 9% in July, following an 11% increase during the previous month. Year to date, the index has climbed 40%.
Written by Amy Baxter
