Encompass Health CFO: PDGM Has Been ‘Greatly Exacerbated’ by COVID-19

Like most in the health care sector, Encompass Health Corporation (NYSE: EHC) took a hit to its business in March as the COVID-19 outbreak intensified. Usually bullish on its near-term home health and hospice projections, the Birmingham, Alabama-based company is now more focused on getting back to a sense of normalcy. Encompass Health leadership detailed […]

‘Disciplined Acquirer’ Encompass Health Won’t Be Afraid to Spend Big for Right Deal

Encompass Health Corporation (NYSE: EHC) is drawing early positives from its deployment of predictive analytics technology. In fact, it’s so bullish on early returns that the Birmingham, Alabama-based company plans to ramp up deployment and usage across the majority of home health locations in 2020. Apart from tech tools, Encompass Health also foresees plenty of […]

The Top 10 Largest Home Health Providers in 2019

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. […]

State Home Health Leaders Go on the PDGM Offensive 

On a federal level, the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC), LeadingAge and the Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare (PQHH) have all ramped up their home health advocacy efforts this summer and in early fall. Increasingly, state home health leaders have joined in on those efforts as well. Over the past three months, […]

Encompass Health Latest Home Health Giant to Invest in Medalogix

Encompass Health (NYSE: EHC) has made a minority investment in predictive analytics firm Medalogix. Regulatory changes and staffing shortages driving the need for increased efficiency in home health and hospice motivated the investment, according to Encompass Health Chief Strategy Officer Luke James. “As we look out into the future, [we’re excited about] having a direct […]

Encompass Health’s April Anthony: PDGM Is an ‘Overcorrection’ to Therapy

As currently structured, the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) will completely change how and when home health providers deliver therapy services. It will do so in multiple ways, most notably by eliminating the use of therapy service thresholds as a factor in payment determinations. It’s a move the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) has long recommended. […]

Encompass Health to Acquire Alacare Home Health & Hospice for $217.5 Million

Encompass Health Corporation (NYSE: EHC) announced Monday that it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire “substantially all of the assets” of Birmingham, Alabama-based Alacare Home Health & Hospice. Under terms of the deal, Encompass Health will pay $217.5 million for the privately-owned company, SEC filings show. The more than $200 million price tag for […]

Care Indeed, Great Lakes Caring Among ‘Best Workplaces’ in Aging Services Sector

Fortune’s first-ever list of the top 50 workplaces in the aging services sector officially dropped on Thursday, giving several home-based care providers a chance to shine and flaunt their company culture. Care Indeed, Cherished Companions Home Care and 24Hr HomeCare are among the non-medical home care companies to make 2018’s top workplaces list, compiled by […]

PDGM, CoPs Put Home Health Providers in Rough Regulatory Waters

For in-home care providers, navigating the regulatory waters can often be challenging. Being flexible and monitoring the constant waves of change are key to staying afloat. The Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the finalized interpretive guidelines for home health Conditions of Participation (COPs) are two recent regulatory items that are causing industry stakeholders […]

VNAA Launches New Advocacy Parent Organization

The Visiting Nurse Associations of America (VNAA) has launched a new, non-profit organization to advocate for affordable home care as a central part of the health care delivery system. The new entity, ElevatingHOME, will act as a parent organization of VNAA and include for-profit and non-profit members across the industry. The 501(c)6 organization brings together […]