As restitution for violating state wage laws, a Massachusetts home health care company and its owner have been ordered to pay $162,000 in penalties and back wages to more than 230 employees. Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey announced Monday that Worcester-based Pinnacle Home Healthcare Services Inc. and owner Pauline Mwangi failed to pay caregivers their […]
A bipartisan group of House lawmakers took the first swing at extending the Independence at Home Medical Practice Demonstration Program last week, reintroducing H.R. 3644 on July 9. The bill was reintroduced in the House by Reps. Michael C. Burgess (R-Texas), Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), Kenny Marchant (R-Texas) and Mike Thompson (D-Calif.). “The Independence at Home […]
In an effort to shift more treatment of chronic kidney disease into the home and ensure patients have greater access to coordinated care, federal policymakers have proposed a series of new payment models for certain kidney-related conditions. Officials from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid […]
For many Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), having a strong presence in the home has been a vital strategy for improving care management and identifying patient needs. Even so, many ACOs carry out that strategy with in-home visits from primary care practitioners — and not necessarily dedicated home health providers. That may change in years to […]
LHC Group names new chief medical officer LHC Group Inc. (Nasdaq: LHCG) has appointed Dr. Tricia Nguyen as its new executive vice president and chief medical officer. Lafayette, Louisiana-based LHC Group and its 32,000 employees deliver home health, hospice, personal care and facility-based services to patients throughout 36 states. In her new role, Dr. Nguyen […]
Non-medical home care benefits that address the social determinants of health of older adults could curb Medicare spending. That’s according to findings from a recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, which suggests more than $4 billion in Medicare costs are due to the lack of non-medical support for older adults, specifically those […]
So far, virtual reality company Rendever has largely used its technology to reduce the social isolation of older adults living in senior living communities throughout the U.S. Teaming up with in-home care providers, however, may be the key to the company’s future, according to co-founder and CEO Kyle Rand. Overall, Rendever works with more than […]
Nursing home costs are skyrocketing faster than general inflation and even the price tag on other forms of medical care, casting doubts on affordability for older adults, many of whom may be further encouraged to turn to cheaper home-based care as an alternative. But while home care may be kinder to seniors’ pocketbooks, it may […]
As more companies look to address the social determinants that hinder health, transportation has largely risen to the forefront. Several unexpected, non-health care players are driving that high-octane focus — including Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F). One of the oldest and largest automakers in the U.S., Ford is entering the health care transportation game through […]
Despite previously reported findings, traditional Medicare may have a better track record of lowering hospital-readmission risk compared to the Medicare Advantage (MA) program. While the re-hospitalization difference appears to be small, it’s an important observation for home health providers, especially those that work closely with MA plans. New insights into re-hospitalization rates in Medicare and […]