HCAOA Names Home Helpers CEO as Board President; CMS Chief Medical Officer Leaves for Humana

HCAOA elects new board president

The Home Care Association of America (HCAOA) has elected Emma Dickison as the new president of its board of directors.

Washington, D.C.-based HCAOA represents nearly 3,000 companies that employ more than 500,000 caregivers.

Dickison brings her background as CEO of Home Helpers Home Care — a company she’s been with since 2007 — to the role.

“Throughout her career, Emma has been an innovative leader who provides a laser focus on the most important aspects of her business,” Peter Ross, outgoing president of the HCAOA board of directors, said in a press release. “Her track record of exponential growth and expert knowledge of the industry perfectly aligns with our desire to reach the next level.”

Home Helpers was acquired by private equity firm Linsalata Capital Partners in 2016. During her time at Home Helpers Home Care, Dickison has doubled the home care franchise from about 500 communities to over 1,000.

“The home care space is very dynamic — and it is changing,” Dickison previously told Home Health Home Care News. “We have been, I believe, a leader in those changes. Not just in franchising, but in home care. Our average growth rate over the last three years was 24%. We’ve outpaced the industry in that regard.”

Dickison has served on HCAOA’s board of directors since 2015.

Humana snags CMS’s CMO

Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) has poached one of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS’s) key leaders.

Dr. Kate Goodrich will leave her chief medical officer role at CMS and take on a senior role at Humana in February, according to reports from Modern Healthcare.

Humana is one of the largest health companies in the U.S. — a mix of both payer and in-home care provider. The Louisville, Kentucky-based company, which includes in-home care entities Kindred at Home and Humana At Home, has roughly 17 million members.

In addition to her former role as CMS’s CMO, Dr. Goodrich was director of the Quality Measurement & Value-Based Incentives Group (QMVIG).

Aside from this recent appointment, Humana announced plans to acquire privately-held Enclara Healthcare, a hospice pharmacy, and benefit management provider, in December.