Trump Impeachment Investigation Stealing Spotlight From Home Health Industry’s PDGM Efforts

At first glance, it might be hard to spot a connection between the impeachment activity swirling around President Donald Trump and the home health industry. A deep dive into the current Washington, D.C.-landscape and national priorities, however, suggests the two are inevitably linked. With all eyes and ears tuned into impeachment talks on Capitol Hill, […]

Home Health Agencies Paid $46.2B to 1.5M Employees in 2018

The home health care industry had a bigger impact on the U.S. economy than ever before in 2018, according to new data. Specifically, home health agencies paid nearly $46.2 billion in total wages to a whopping 1.47 million employees nationwide in 2018. That’s up more than $3 billion and 60,0000 employees from the year before. […]

Home Health Value-Based Purchasing Model Likely Headed to the Scrap Yard

The Home Health Value-Based Purchasing Model (HHVBPM) is likely headed for the scrap yard in the not-too-distant future. Implemented in 2016, HHVBPM was generally designed to pay home health providers in nine states based on outcomes and the value of services delivered. While many thought HHVBPM was fated for expansion, the initiative appears to be […]

Home Health Industry Has ‘Very Limited Chance’ of Derailing CMS’s RAP Plans

Home health agencies hoping the industry will derail the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in its quest to eliminate pre-payments shouldn’t hold their breath. In its July 11 proposed payment rule, CMS floated plans to phase out Requests for Anticipated Payment (RAPs) starting next year and eliminate them completely by 2021. The agency […]

PDPM Aftermath Offers Glimpse of Home Health Therapy Changes to Come

Home health operators wondering how therapy utilization will change following the Jan. 1 implementation of the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) need only look to their post-acute care brethren for answers. The beginning of October marked the official start of the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM), another major payment overhaul from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid […]

In-Home Care Costs Rising Faster Than Any Other Long-Term Care Setting

Home-based care is often lauded as an affordable — and preferable — alternative to skilled nursing care. But that characterization could be changing, as in-home care costs are skyrocketing to become more expensive than ever. That’s according to the latest annual Genworth Cost of Care Survey released Wednesday. The survey tracks the cost of various […]

Humana CMO: We Are Moving Full Speed Ahead on Home Care

Health insurance giant Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) has not been shy about its strategy of moving further and further into the home. Right now, the company is busy with its many in-home endeavors, which include Humana At Home, Curo Health Services and Kindred at Home, the largest provider of home health and hospice services in […]

NAHC’s Dombi: We’re Not Going To Be Bullied By Congress, CMS

There’s a flood of changes surging toward the U.S. home health care industry. But thanks to widespread recognition, improved quality and staunch advocacy efforts, providers have never been standing on higher ground. That was the key message delivered by the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) leadership Sunday during the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit […]

Homecare Homebase Launches ‘Exchange’ Tool; Cerner, ResMed Form Care Transitions Partnership

Homecare Homebase launches ‘interoperability’ tool In an effort to improve interoperability, Homecare Homebase (HCHB) announced Wednesday that it has officially launched HCHB Exchange, a tool that allows home-based care providers to send and receive patient information. HCHB is a Dallas-based company that provides cloud-based software solutions for home health and hospice providers. HCHB Exchange is […]

Home Health Readmission Rates Remain Flat, Quality Improving

Despite providers often touting their success in keeping older adults at home and out of the hospital, average readmission rates for the home health industry remained relatively flat from 2017 to 2018. That’s according to the latest Home Health Chartbook, a comprehensive analysis of the post-acute care industry and home health sub-sector compiled by Avalere […]