Kindred Projects Home Health Recovery After Storm-Battered Third Quarter

Buoyed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) recent decision to delay the home health groupings model (HHGM), executives at Kindred Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE: KND) say they see growth ahead in the sector. After taking a financial hit amid the recent natural disasters, Kindred expects annual revenue and admissions growth of 3% to […]

Home Health Providers Affected by Maria Exempt from Quality Reporting

In the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, which made landfall in Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands on September 20, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is granting exceptions for certain quality reporting measures for affected health care providers, including home health agencies. CMS granted health care providers similar reporting requirement exceptions following Hurricanes […]

$39 Million Repayment Order Prompts Restructuring at Amedisys

Baton Rouge-based Amedisys (Nasdaq: AMED), one of the nation’s largest home health care providers, has been slapped with a request by a Medicare contractor to repay nearly $39 million in overpayments, according to a public filing. While Amedisys is appealing the allegations, it estimated the potential range of loss between $6.5 million and $38.8 million […]

CMS Withdraws Redundant Same-Sex Spousal Rights Proposal

In line with the new administration’s promise to reduce regulations, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has withdrawn a proposed rule to extend spousal rights to same-sex married couples. The rule is no longer needed, as same-sex marriage became legal and recognized in all 50 states since it was proposed, the agency stated […]

CMS Grants Reporting Exceptions for Home Health Providers Affected by Irma

Home health care providers in the wake of Hurricane Irma have been granted exceptions for quality reporting measures from the Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services (CMS). Irma hit the U.S. in the second week of September, just days after the Texas coastline and Houston area was devastated by Hurricane Harvey. Providers affected by Harvey […]

Kindred CEO Sounds Off on Home Health Payment Rule

Kindred Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE: KND) president and CEO Benjamin Breier sounded off on the proposed home health groupings model (HHGM), vowing to work with the industry and regulators to craft a solution that works for all parties. “The home health industry is undeniably united in its negative view of the rule, and will take a […]

Encompass CEO: HHGM Threatens Home Health Margins

Encompass Home Health and Hospice, which is a segment of HealthSouth (NYSE: HLS) and one of the nation’s largest home health providers, is sounding the alarm over a recently proposed rule that would overhaul the Medicare payment system and possibly drive some providers’ margins into negative territory. The July 25 proposal from the Centers for Medicare & […]

[Updated] CMS Moves Forward with New Home Health Payment Model

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued its long-awaited proposed prospective payment system (PPS) rate update for 2018, marginally reducing overall spending in the space and introducing the home health groupings model (HHGM) for implementation in 2019. The new model could result in a $950 million Medicare payment cut for home health […]

Home Health Market Saturation by State

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released updated market saturation data, revealing the number of home health providers and fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries in each state. CMS uses the data to monitor market saturation to prevent fraud, waste and abuse, the agency said. It also reveals the degree to which use of a […]

Home Health Quality Ratings Show Improvement

Home health agencies have largely maintained their quality, with some signs of improving patient care, according to the latest compare charts from The Centers for medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The Home Health Compare tool, created by CMS, enables consumers to view quality measures and patient ratings. In the most recent update, posted April 12, […]