A study on artificial intelligence (AI) suggests the technology holds promise for detecting Medicare fraud within home health and hospice. However, leaders within the industry say a measured approach should be taken, given potential shortcomings and pitfalls related to AI. The research team at Florida Atlantic University programmed computers to predict, classify and flag potentially […]
Home Health Care News Perspective: With certain non-skilled in-home care services allowable under the Medicare Advantage program in 2019, the home care industry has made landing partnerships with health plans a top priority. But significant opportunities may not arise until 2020, experts predict. Just 3% of MA plans will next year offer in-home support services such as […]
Home Health Care News Perspective: Election Day 2018 is nearly here. As in any campaign season, the U.S. health care system has played an important role. This year, Republicans and Democrats have debated the value and feasibility of a Medicare-for-all model, as discussed in the following article from Kaiser Health News. America’s population of older adults […]
Editors note: This is the second column submitted to Home Health Care News from Humana Chief Medical Officer Roy A. Beveridge. A previous column, “How We Will Keep Carol at Home, Not in the Hospital” ran on Sept. 19, 2018. By Roy A. Beveridge, MD How do you keep seniors living with multiple chronic conditions […]
By Roy A. Beveridge, MD If you know a senior who’s recently been discharged from the hospital, you know she’s doing everything she can to stay in her home. Returning to the hospital is a big step backward. Avoiding a hospital readmission is a serious challenge for many seniors. According to the Department of Health […]
Home Health Care News Perspective: Union fees for home care workers have long been in the crosshairs. HHCN previously reported on how the home care industry paved the way for the Supreme Court’s landmark Janus ruling and how workers have begun to file lawsuits seeking reimbursement of union fees in the wake of that case. […]
For years, home health agencies across the country have had numerous reasons to focus on reducing their 60-day re-hospitalization rate. Yet performance in this area has slightly worsened, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) noted in its recently proposed Medicare payment update for 2019. Because of this trend, CMS is proposing to increase […]
Many people’s minds turn to vacation during the summer, but the demand for home care doesn’t take time off. “When someone needs health care, they typically need health care year-round,” Steven East, CEO of Caring People, told Home Health Care News. New York City-based Caring People offers a range of in-home services, including companion care […]
Home Health Care News perspective: With more patients dying at home than ever before and receiving care services outside of institutions, family members can add to the burdens of patients. Hospice patients at home are finding that family members are stealing their pain pills; though in some cases, the theft is done by a hospice […]
Home Health Care News perspective: Not all seniors are ready to accept help at home through home health care or private pay home care. However, refusing home health care services after a hospital can have negative impacts, including higher rates of rehospitalization. Meanwhile, patients that accept home health care services generally report a higher quality of life following […]