CMS Plans 4.3% Medicare Advantage Payment Increase for 2026

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in 2026 plans to raise payments to Medicare Advantage plans by 4.3% in 2026. CMS has issued an advance notice of policy changes for Medicare Advantage and Part D that would install technical updates, including to the ways the agency calculates payments to health plans. “CMS […]

Home-Based Care Provider HarmonyCares Thrives In ACO REACH’s First Performance Year

Formerly U.S. Medical Management, the home-based care company HarmonyCare raised $200 million in June. On Wednesday, it touted its success in the Accountable Care Organization (ACO) “REACH” Model, the successor to the The Global and Professional Direct Contracting Models (GPDC). Put forth by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), ACO REACH gives private […]

Facing Headwinds, UnitedHealth Group Remains Focused On Value-Based Care

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Medicare rate cuts, state-driven Medicaid member redeterminations and the Change Healthcare cyberattack. These are just three disruptions that UnitedHealth Group’s (NYSE: UNH) leadership has had to factor in when setting future growth objectives. “It’s a distinctive part of the culture of UnitedHealth Group that we continue to […]

How Enhabit, Bayada Win Home Health Value-Based Care Arrangements

As more home health providers participate in value-based care arrangements, leaders are learning what works, and what falls flat. Enhabit Inc. (NYSE: EHAB) has been active in the value-based care space. The company has a small – but growing – number of value-based contracts on the Medicare Advantage (MA) side, as well as Accountable Care […]

How CenterWell Can Prove Home Health Care’s Worth Within Humana

Earlier this year, I had the chance to interview CenterWell President Sanjay Shetty on stage and off stage at the Digital Healthcare Innovation Summit in La Jolla, California. Last month, at Home Health Care News’ FUTURE conference in Nashville, I did the same with Kirk Allen, the president of home solutions at Humana Inc. (NYSE: […]

How Home Health Providers Can Avoid ‘Financial Disaster’ In Value-Based Arrangements

Home health providers often pursue value-based care arrangements, with the goal of delivering quality care and achieving monetary success. But if they are not careful, these companies can also land in financial hot water. “In a value-based arrangement, a financial disaster means I’m now losing money,” Joseph Furtado, administrator of MD Home Health, told Home […]

Walgreens To Reduce Physical Footprint, Continue Health Care Services Focus

Following its move to decrease VillageMD’s physical footprint, Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. (Nasdaq: WBA) seems to be doubling down on its decision. “We don’t have plans to continue to invest in brick and mortar-owned primary care practices,” Mary Langowski, the president of U.S. Healthcare, said during the company’s third-quarter earnings call on Thursday. VillageMD is […]