Home Health Cash Flow Has Yet to Recover from Post-PDGM Dip

Even before the coronavirus hit, cash flow was poised to be a problem for home health providers in 2020. The Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) shortened home health billing periods from 60 days to 30, creating a cash flow crunch for agencies during their first few months under the new model, which took effect Jan. 1. […]

How to Draft an M&A Agreement When PPP Loans Are Involved

Smaller home-based care agencies could be forced to close their doors as a result of the coronavirus, creating merger-and-acquisition opportunities for larger providers in the space.  However, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) adds a new layer of complexity to some of those M&A opportunities, specifically if an acquisition target is the recipient of a PPP […]

Buyer Beware: Factors Home-Based Care Providers Should Consider Before Acquiring PPP Recipients

Pre-coronavirus, the home health and home care industries were already poised for historic consolidation, thanks to the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM), rising minimum wages and other operational pressures. Industry leaders predict that the COVID-19 emergency will only drive M&A further going forward. However, home-based care businesses interested in picking up new agencies should heed caution, […]

COVID-19, PDGM Hit Home Health Therapy Staff with ‘Double Whammy’

More than six months have passed since the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) took effect. Despite the ample runway, many home health providers are seemingly still adjusting their therapy strategies, prolonging the initial layoffs, pay cuts and furloughs that took place at the beginning of the year. The coronavirus is largely to blame for the continued […]

Nearly 70% of ACOs Will Soon Offer Some Type of Home Visits

More than half of all accountable care organizations (ACOs) deliver home-based care to their patients, while an additional 17% have new home visit programs in the works. That’s according to a recent survey of National Association of ACOs (NAACOS) members, conducted in conjunction with the Institute for Accountable Care (IAC) and West Health Institute. Washington, […]

Computer Manufacturer Lenovo Announces New In-Home Care Solutions for Patients with Chronic Conditions

Computer manufacturing company Lenovo is rolling out a new home-based virtual care solution designed to build compliance among patients with chronic conditions, many of whom are seniors. It’s doing so in partnership with Vianova Health, which created the virtual health assistant used in the new technology. While telehealth technology has become essential amid COVID-19, Lenovo […]

By the Numbers: Breaking Down Home Health LUPA Patterns

In the first three months of the year when home health agencies were adjusting to the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM), the national low-utilization payment adjustment (LUPA) rate hit 9.5%. LUPA rates reached their height in March, when the coronavirus took the U.S. by storm. Those were just a couple key takeaways from a BlackTree Healthcare […]

[Updated] CMS Proposes $540M Home Health Payment Boost, Permanent Telehealth Changes

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing to make telehealth flexibilities for home health providers introduced in light of the coronavirus permanent. Yet providers would still be forced to provide the virtual care without payment. CMS detailed that proposal and others Thursday afternoon, along with its annual suggested update to the Medicare […]