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 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 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 […]
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 […]
Regulatory changes and renewed interest from private equity firms has had a major impact on the home health market over the past few years. That impact is easily observed just by looking at the list of largest home health providers in 2019. In order, Kindred at Home, Amedisys Inc. (Nasdaq: AMED) and LHC Group Inc. […]
The home health industry is right on the cusp of the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) becoming the new normal. Among its changes, the payment overhaul gets rid of scores of previously acceptable primary diagnosis codes under the Prospective Payment System (PPS). In fact, PDGM has roughly 40% fewer acceptable codes compared to the current payment […]
With less than two months left on the clock before home health agencies take their shot at the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM), questions regarding industry preparedness and education continue to swirl. Some, however, say those questions are better aimed at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Similar to home health providers, CMS regulators […]
The cost of in-home care is rising faster than any other long-term care setting, according to recent data from insurance firm Genworth Financial. With that in mind, it shouldn’t be all too surprising that a sizeable portion of Medicare beneficiaries have a serious problem paying home care bills. In a national survey of more than […]
LHC Group and LifePoint Health cement JV partnership LHC Group Inc. (Nasdaq: LHCG) and LifePoint Health have further cemented their joint venture partnership with the purchases CMH Home Health Care, Casa de la Paz Hospice and St. Joseph Family Hospice. CMH Home Health Care is a home health provider that serves Clinton County, Ohio. Casa […]
Top health care executives foresee strong home health growth in 2020, despite the upcoming Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) and other regulatory headwinds. Behavioral health and hospice are likewise poised for a bullish year. That’s according to Capital One’s annual health care services executive survey, released Wednesday. More than 123 senior health care executives from across […]