As the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) nears, providers are still trying to figure out how they will navigate 2020’s uncharted territory. For many, there’s a temptation to gain ground by sharply cutting therapy utilization. But that will likely hinder quality of care and cause some providers to pay a steep price. “The minute we saw […]
The National Association for Home Care & Hospice
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a final rule Thursday that makes changes to discharge planning requirements for home health providers. Broadly, the changes are part of CMS’s efforts to make patients a more active part of their care transitions out of the hospital and into other settings. “This delivers on President […]
As Medicare Advantage (MA) continues to expand rapidly, home health providers will need to develop strategic plans in order to secure successful contracts with plans. “One of the very important pieces here is determining your strategy and learning about your markets,” Paul Giles, director of home health finance and business operations at Dignity Health, said […]
The home health care industry is not pleased with the 2020 proposed payment rule — and industry leaders are making sure the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) knows. Led by LHC Group Inc. (Nasdaq: LHCG) CEO Keith Myers, the Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare (PQHH) has sent a letter to CMS Administrator Seema […]
Home care is frequently touted as one of the most affordable care options for seniors. But the average cost of full-time home care is nearly equal to the median household income in the U.S., a new report suggests. Specifically, 44 hours of home care per week annually costs 91.1% of the median household’s bring-home pay. […]
A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers has begun planting the seeds to eliminate Medicare’s physician-certification policy — which many home health industry insiders have critiqued as outdated. If successful, the move could potentially make it easier for older adults to gain access to home health care and have a major impact on providers’ bottom line. […]
The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) has named William A. Dombi as its interim president while the organization seeks a permanent appointment. The executive committee of the board of directors of NAHC voted on August 3 to appoint Dombi as interim president, following the passing of the organization’s longtime president Val. J. Halamandaris, […]
This week, readers caught up on the latest news on free home health referrals and were keen on updates following the extension of minimum wage and overtime protections to home care workers. Here are the top headlines from this week and some notable stories from around the web that caught our eye here at HHCN. Most […]
A home health copay, as seen in the Obama Administration’s 2016 budget proposal, would reduce Medicare spending by $830 million through 2025. The 2016 budget proposal, released Monday, contains home health copayments for Medicare beneficiaries along with cuts to post-acute care provider reimbursements for the next decade. The budget proposal includes a reduction each year […]