How Home-Based Care Providers Can Protect Margins During Industry Upheaval

The home-based care industry is reeling with uncertainty these days. Change seems to be the only constant, from Medicare Advantage’s increasing role in the industry to the Trump administration’s rapidly evolving actions. These fluctuations result in widespread cost pressures for the in-home care community. While reimbursement can be a struggle for providers accepting Medicaid or […]

Low Wages Stir Home Care Staffing Crisis In Pennsylvania

More than 400,000 seniors and medically fragile individuals in Pennsylvania rely on home care – but caregivers and nurses are leaving the industry at an alarming rate to work in neighboring states or settings that offer more competitive wages. The Pennsylvania Homecare Association (PHA) attributes this trend to the state’s average reimbursement rate for these […]

Patina Offers New In-Home Program To Medicare Advantage Members

Patina has introduced Patina Total Health, a program designed to provide personalized, age-friendly care and support specifically for Medicare Advantage (MA) members. This initiative aims to help individuals maintain their health, receive appropriate care and navigate their health care journey more easily. Eligible plan members can access Patina Total Health at no additional cost and […]

Medicare Advantage Growth Continues Despite Headwinds

The Medicare Advantage (MA) market grew to 34.5 million in 2024 despite significant challenges, according to a new report from HealthScape Advisors and Chartis. This signifies that 51% of the U.S. Medicare population is enrolled in an MA plan, reflecting a growth of nearly 1.3 million total beneficiaries since 2024. The report indicates that while […]

Home Health Leaders Optimistic for 2025

Leaders from Pennant Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: PNTG), the parent company of a network of home health, hospice, and senior living services in 13 states, discussed the current state of their business on Tuesday at the 2025 Oppenheimer Co. Annual Healthcare MedTech & Services Conference. Echoing its Q4 earnings report released in February, Pennant highlighted significant […]

MedPAC Pushes For 7% Reduction In Medicare Payment Rate, Highlights Decline In Home Health Care Usage

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) for the second year in a row called on Congress to reduce Medicare fee-for-service home health payments by 7%. In addition, the commission reported that the number of home health care agencies (HHAs) participating in Medicare increased in 2023, even though the number of beneficiaries decreased. In regards to […]

Capitol Hill Action Stokes Hopefulness For Home-Based Care Providers

For once, most representatives from both parties agreed that action is necessary. “I was encouraged by the engagement from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle,” Empath Health CEO Jonathan Fleece told me in an email after the March 11 hearing, at which he testified. “There was real recognition that home-based care is not only […]

Self-Direction Programs Aim To Empower Patients, Relieve Home-Based Care Staffing Shortages

As the demand for home-based care continues to rise amid a nationwide shortage of caregivers, self-direction programs are emerging as a vital solution. These programs empower individuals to choose their own caregivers, addressing unique cultural needs and fostering personal connections that enhance mental well-being and the quality of care. While controversy continues to swirl in […]

Fixing A ‘Badly Broken Medical System’: Home Care Leaders Testify Before Congress On Post-Acute Care

On Tuesday, post-acute care leaders and advocates testified before the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means regarding the importance of home health care. During the health subcommittee hearing titled “After the Hospital: Ensuring Access to Quality Post-Acute Care,” Empath President and CEO Jonathan Fleece and Dr. Dana Madison, owner of BSA Compassion Home Care, […]