As The Year End Looms, Home Care-Related Policy Proposals Heat Up In Washington DC 

Congress has begun discussions on important health care policies set to expire on Dec. 31. On Dec. 3, Republicans submitted a preliminary proposal to Democrats, which includes a three-year extension of Medicare’s telehealth and hospital-at-home programs. They also suggested funding for community health centers and extensions for public health programs in Medicare and Medicaid. The […]

As Home Health Providers Dive Into AI, Study Examines Its Effect On Reducing Documentation Time

Artificial intelligence-powered documentation does not enhance clinician efficiency but may improve their work-life balance, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Researchers at Atrium Health in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the Wake Forest University School of Medicine conducted a study in mid-2023 comparing 112 primary care clinicians who used Nuance’s […]

Optum, LHC Group Put Pedal Down On Home-Based Care Efforts

LHC Group President and CEO Josh Proffitt on Wednesday shared a home-based, value-based vision for the company’s future. UnitedHealth Group’s (NYSE: UNH) Optum acquired LHC Group last year for $5.4 billion.  “Home Care remains deeply fragmented, disconnected and too difficult to navigate,” Proffitt said Wednesday. “It accounts for about $150 billion of the health sector […]

Humana Announces Mellet As New CFO Amid Leadership Changes

Celeste Mellet will succeed Susan Diamond as CFO of Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) effective Jan. 11, 2025. Diamond is stepping down after an 18-year career at the Louisville, Kentucky-based company and will continue to serve in an advisory role until the end of 2025. “It’s been an honor to work with such talented colleagues during […]

Bridging The Divide: Addressing The Unique Challenges Of Rural Home Health Care Access

Living in an urban area typically offers greater access to a wider range of home care services than living in a rural area. Urban residents generally have more choices regarding providers and facilities, while those in rural areas face challenges such as longer travel distances, limited provider availability and potential concerns about the quality of […]

Compassus CEO: To ‘Grow Up,’ Home Health Industry Needs To Become Accountable

Compassus – one of the largest home-based care organizations in the U.S. – takes a unique path to growth. Of late, the company has formed new joint ventures with prominent health systems. Those JVs come with advantages. “I think that’s a differentiator for us,” Compassus CEO Mike Asselta recently told me. “It’s something that’s really […]

Transactions: Elevance Health’s Home-Based Care Bet; Eden Health, Mission Health Expand Hospice Footprints

Elevance Health to acquire CareBridge Elevance Health (NYSE: ELV) is emerging as another “payvider.” It announced last month that it has agreed to acquire the home-based care company CareBridge. The deal is reportedly worth $2.7 billion. CareBridge is a value-based solutions platform for home- and community-based services. After its founding in 2019, the company raised […]