Citing ‘Inadequate’ Managed Care Payments, Nonprofit Home Care Provider Announces Layoffs

Lengthy payment delays, negative operating margins and severe labor shortages have contributed to a challenging financial environment for home-based care providers doing business in the state of New York. The financial hardship has even triggered layoffs in some cases, including at one of the state’s certified home health agencies serving the largest number of patients […]

Home Health Care Agencies Threatened as Wages Rise, Reimbursements Lag

As more states push to raise the minimum wage, home-based care companies must work harder than ever to attract and retain workers as competition among employers grows. In home health care, agencies’ success often depends on Medicaid reimbursement, which is not keeping up with wage inflation in some states. And in private-pay home care, increased […]

CMS Lifts Moratoria on Home Health After 5 Years

The long-standing moratoria on new Medicare home health agencies is no longer in effect anywhere in the U.S. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) allowed the temporary ban to expire on Jan. 30, a move that will likely improve patient access to home-based care in related markets, experts say. CMS initially implemented a […]

Home Health Care Creating Savings Under CJR Model

A staple mandatory bundled payment program geared toward hip and knee replacements has saved hundreds of dollars per episode over the past couple of years, recent research has found. The main reasons: a reduction in skilled nursing facility (SNF) reimbursements and an increase in the use of home health care. Medicare policymakers launched the Comprehensive […]

Why Elara Caring Sees Behavioral Health as a New Frontier in 2019

Managing chronically ill patient populations across years and becoming a go-to resource for behavioral health needs are among Elara Caring’s biggest priorities over the next several months. Industry consolidation and increasing partnerships with large-scale payers and health systems will also be on the Addison, Texas-based provider’s radar, CEO G. Scott Herman told Home Health Care […]

LHC Group Expands Home-Based Care Footprint With Latest Joint Venture

Just one month into the year, LHC Group (Nasdaq: LHCG) is already making progress on its 2019 goal to shift more care into the home. The home health care powerhouse on Thursday announced a new joint venture with Unity Health, resulting in shared ownership of two home health providers in Arkansas. The move is yet […]

Insurance Risks for At-Home Care Agencies and How to Address Them

As health care costs rise unsustainably and the aging population booms like never before, the need for affordable at-home care continues to grow. But from an insurance standpoint, providing that care could soon come with more risk and a higher price tag. “There’s no specific data that is publicly available that speaks to [at-home care […]

HouseWorks Acquires Caring Friends Home Care, LifeCare Health Pursues Rebranding

Massachusetts home care company enters Philadelphia market Private-pay in-home care company HouseWorks LLC has acquired Caring Friends Home Care. The acquisition propels the Massachusetts-based HouseWorks into the Philadelphia market, while positioning the company for future growth throughout Pennsylvania. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. HouseWorks, which is backed by health care investor RAB […]

Court Ruling Goes Against Pro-Home Health Provider Medicare Recoupment Trend

A recent court ruling against a home health care company could mean trouble for providers struggling financially as a result of Medicare recoupment, at least one legal expert believes.   Currently, home health care providers that are overpaid for Medicare services are not required to repay the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) while […]

Humana Updates Management Team, LHC Group Fills Out Board

Humana updates management team with internal hires Health insurance giant Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) has filled two leadership roles with internal candidates. The Louisville, Kentucky-based company has promoted Joseph Ventura to General Counsel and named Douglas Stoss interim lead for Humana’s Office of Corporate Affairs. Both will serve as members of the company’s management team. […]