Home Health Industry Reacts to CMS Value-Based Primary Care Initiative

Health care policymakers on Monday unveiled a new voluntary risk-based initiative designed to reward physicians who keep patients at home and away from hospitals. Based upon the work of previous administrations, the new initiative marks a major inflection point for the value-based transformation of the U.S. health care system, according to Department of Health and […]

HCAP Partners Invests in Mission Healthcare, Nova Leap Completes Home Care Acquisition

HCAP Partners invests in Mission Healthcare In the midst of growing interest in the home health care space from private equity investors, HCAP Partners has invested in Mission Healthcare. Investment terms were not disclosed. Mission Healthcare — which has more than 600 employees — is a San Diego-based home health and hospice services provider with […]

Daily Pay for Caregivers Helps BrightSpring Improve Recruitment, Retention

As the aging population continues to grow, so does the need for home-based care services. But supply isn’t keeping up with demand when it comes to the caregivers required to provide those services, creating fierce competition for workers. To win over prospective employees, at-home care providers must differentiate themselves. For BrightSpring Health Services, that means […]

Humana Releases ‘Unhealthy Days’ Update, Explores More In-Home Care Opportunities

An initiative by Humana (NYSE: HUM) that addresses social determinants of health posted positive results in five of seven target communities in 2018. On average, Humana Medicare Advantage (MA) members in participating communities saw a 2.7% reduction in “unhealthy days” experienced in 2018, according to the insurer’s 2019 Bold Goal progress report. Unhealthy days are […]

How LHC Group Quietly Acquired an ACO Management Company, Doubled ACO Activity

When LHC Group (Nasdaq: LHCG) acquired Almost Family in 2018, a number of additional assets came with the deal, including Imperium Health Management, one of the country’s largest accountable care organization (ACO) management companies. Rather than sell the business, LHC Group decided to embrace it. “We did not even hesitate to embrace the ACO segment […]

Home Health Physical Therapy Visits May Lower Re-Hospitalization Risk by 82%

Home health physical therapy sessions — set for major changes under the upcoming Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) — can drastically lower the risk of re-hospitalization among older adults following discharge. That’s according to a new study published earlier this month in Journal of the American Medical Directors Association. Specifically, the study found, one to two […]

Credit, Billing Staff Are Keys to a Smooth Financial Transition into PDGM

When the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) takes effect Jan. 1, home health care billing processes will become significantly more complicated. The new model revolutionizes the way agencies are reimbursed, cutting payment periods in half and requiring more detailed claims, among other changes. As a result, PDGM will likely put financial strain on even the most […]

Chronic Conditions Cost US Economy More Than $4.5 Trillion

The overall economic burden associated with diabetes, heart disease, dementia and other chronic medical conditions in the United States now adds up to more than $4.5 trillion, a new report has found. While already staggering, that economic burden is projected to double within the next three decades as well, propelled by the wave of aging […]

Transportation Challenges, Internet Access Limit Home Health Care in Rural Areas

Despite the efforts of state and federal policymakers trying to encourage the use of home- and community-based services (HCBS) over the past several decades, patients in rural areas still face more challenges gaining access to those kinds of supports compared to their urban counterparts. That’s according to a new study published this month in the […]

Tech-Enabled Therapy Company Sword Health Raises $8 Million

A New York-based company aiming to revolutionize physical therapy delivery has raised another $8 million in venture capital funding, bringing its total raised to more than $15 million since 2015. The company is Sword Health, a tech-enabled physical therapy provider that has created a digital therapist able to treat therapy patients remotely. The service could […]