CMS Administrator Seema Verma: Home Health Compare Overhaul Is on Its Way

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced Thursday that users of Home Health Compare — its consumer-facing database of home health provider quality information — can expect to see a major revamp. CMS plans to roll Home Health Compare and seven other Compare sites into one tool called “Medicare Care Compare” sometime this […]

Illinois Reaches ‘Historic’ Wage Increase Agreement with Home Care Workers

In what is being called a historic step forward on the wage and labor front, the state of Illinois recently reached two contract agreements with SEIU Healthcare Illinois — covering 30,000 home care workers. “After years of instability, I’m proud these contracts deliver good wages and good benefits to the people who offer this critical […]

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 […]

Physician, NAHC Make Case for Home Care Coverage Under Medicare

Over the past few years, non-medical home care has become a pillar service within the broader health care continuum for its ability to improve outcomes and increase patient satisfaction. Due to that success, some believe home care should be covered under Medicare, just like home health or hospice care. Dr. Laurie Archbald, an associate professor […]

LHC Group Says It’s Not Cutting Therapy Visits Post-PDGM

Now that the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) is the new normal, the home health industry is entering the most pivotal time for consolidation since the shift to the Prospective Payment System (PPS). With that in mind, Lafayette, Louisiana-based LHC Group Inc. (Nasdaq: LHCG) expects to see a major spike in terms of market share gain […]

DOJ Recoups $2.6 Billion from Home Health Fraud, Other Schemes in 2019

The 2019 fiscal year concluded with the Department of Justice (DOJ) bringing in $2.6 billion in recoveries involving health care fraud and false claims. Home health-related fraud was a large part of these efforts.  This marks the 10th consecutive year that the department’s civil health care fraud settlements and judgments have exceeded $2 billion. The […]

Home Health Insiders Hearing About Agency Exits Less Than 10 Days into PDGM

We’re less than 10 days into the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM), but already some industry experts are hearing about the forthcoming shutdown of home health agencies. PDGM — the biggest home health reimbursement overhaul in two decades — began on Jan.1. “Right now, it’s really early to see some of these scenarios,” Mike Dordick, president […]