Medicare Sequestration’s Return Puts Home Health Agencies in Financial Jeopardy

Home health agencies and other Medicare-reimbursed health care providers are just a couple weeks away from the return of sequestration. For many agencies, the restart of the 2% cut will merely be a return to normal, pre-pandemic business. For others, however, it presents another cash-flow disruption that could, at worst, put some smaller operators out […]

Trump Hints at Possible Medicare Cuts

President Donald Trump has opened the door to possible Medicare cuts, an alarming scenario for U.S. home health providers already facing a major reimbursement overhaul and increased compliance pressure from federal watchdogs.  Speaking during an interview with CNBC while attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump suggested that he would consider cuts to […]

Former Home Health Agency Owners Sentenced to Prison, Ordered to Pay Over $10.7M

Three additional home health agency owners have been sentenced to a combined 117 months in prison for their roles in multi-million dollar fraud schemes. The recent sentencings bring April’s home health-related fraud cases to at least five overall, a total that broadly reflects the increased scrutiny and oversight the industry currently faces. On April 22, […]

Texas Home Health Care Owners Make OIG’s Most Wanted List

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) has named a former owner of a Texas-based home health care company, Ebong Aloysius Tilong, among its “most wanted fugitives.” Tilong was indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, health care fraud, conspiracy to pay kickbacks, payment of kickbacks and conspiracy to commit money laundering in […]

Home Health and Hospice Admissions, Utilization Trending Up

Home health care and hospice admissions and utilization are both on the rise, according to the latest data report from Excel Health. Hospice admissions grew 4.6% from the third quarter of 2016 to the third quarter of 2017, rising to 313,500, according to the report, which is based on 100% of the most recent Medicare […]

[Updated] The Trickle-Down Effect of Tax Reform on Home Health

The home health industry is one step closer to witnessing sweeping tax reform, with the bill on its way to President Trump’s desk. As such, the industry could see a windfall—though some cuts to Medicare and Medicaid could be triggered down the line. House and Senate lawmakers voted in favor of the Tax Cuts and […]

Removal of Flu Vaccine Measure to Boost Home Health Star Ratings

Home health agencies participating in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Quality of Patient Care (QoPC) Star Rating program could see a slight uptick in their average ratings on Home Health Compare, thanks to CMS’ proposed removal of the influenza immunization measure. Currently, home health agencies must be able to report on five […]