PDGM Overshadowing Evolution of Home Health Providers into Aging-in-Place Companies

The Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) is overshadowing the rapid evolution of the industry’s largest home health providers. Over the past several years, home health giants Amedisys Inc. (Nasdaq: AMED), Encompass Health Corp. (NYSE: EHC) and LHC Group (Nasdaq: LHCG) have each graduated from relatively one-dimensional enterprises into fully integrated aging-in-place companies that operate across the […]

Despite $5.32B Decrease, CMS Likely to Keep Foot on Improper Payments Gas Pedal

The Medicare fee-for-service improper payment rate has fallen once again, thanks largely to the cleaner paperwork and ongoing compliance efforts of U.S. home health providers. Despite clear and steady progress in bringing improper payment rates down, though, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is unlikely to relax its oversight anytime soon, industry leaders […]

BrightStar CEO: What Non-Medicare Home Care Providers Should Know About PDGM

With a focus on institutional referrals and changes to therapy reimbursement, the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) is going to rock the Medicare-certified home health world in 2020. But private-pay and non-medical home care agencies may also see bottom-line impacts tied to PDGM. Specifically, PDGM will likely create new opportunities for home care agencies looking to […]

LHC Group CFO: PDGM ‘Will Come and Go,’ But Value-Based Care Is Here to Stay

The Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) will largely come and go, leaving ample growth opportunities in its wake for the market’s biggest home health providers. With that in mind, LHC Group Inc. (Nasdaq: LHCG), has its long-term sights set on landing more value-based payment agreements. That’s according to CFO Joshua L. Proffitt, who discussed PDGM, LHC […]

Addus CEO Lauds Illinois Rate Increases

Over the years, Addus HomeCare Corporation (Nasdaq: ADUS) has faced its fair share of Illinois budget woes. But the company has finally received some positive news, announcing Monday that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has approved two Illinois budgeted rate increases for the next couple years. Combined, the Frisco, Texas-based Addus expects […]

Signs Point to Non-Physician Home Health Certification Initially Happening Under Medicare Advantage

A bill that would eliminate Medicare’s physician-certification policy has drawn industry-wide support. But the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) may first opt to test non-physician certification through Medicare Advantage (MA) in lieu of traditional Medicare. The Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act of 2019 — H.R. 2150 — was introduced in April. If […]

Amedisys Building ‘Industrial-Strength Chop Shop’ for Exiting Home Health Agencies

Amedisys Inc. (Nasdaq: AMED) — already the second-largest home health provider in the country — is trying to build “an industrial-strength chop shop” to help drive growth, according to CEO and President Paul Kusserow. With 470 care centers scattered throughout nearly 40 states, the Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based Amedisys currently controls 4.8% of the U.S. home […]

Home Health Turnover Worsens in 2019

Home health turnover rates worsened slightly in 2019 compared to the prior year. Most salaries, however, saw a slight bump. That’s according to the latest Home Care Salary & Benefits Report from the Oakland, New Jersey-based Hospital & Healthcare Compensation Service, which provides salary and benefits studies along with custom marketplace studies, for the health […]

Breaking Down the Latest Home Health Compare Update

Home Health Compare has undergone its latest round of updates. Once again, nearly all measures saw improvement. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) officially updated Home Health Compare on Oct. 30. CMS typically updates the online tool built to educate consumers on quality of care on a quarterly basis. When it comes to […]