Staying Ahead Of The Curve: Clinical Investment Strategies At AccentCare, VNS Health

After the implementation of the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM), many home health providers began adjusting their clinical strategies. One strategy, for instance, was a larger focus on wound care programs. During the worst parts of the pandemic, many providers similarly invested in respiratory programs to care for highly complex COVID-19 patients. Today, home health providers […]

Home Health Providers Curb Hospital Readmissions, Improve Visit Efficiency With Predictive Analytics

With widespread reimbursement uncertainty and staffing shortages, home health providers are looking for ways to offer high-quality and more efficient care. For some operators, this has meant embracing predictive analytics and the powerful tools that have helped revolutionize other industries. Over time, such technology can specifically work wonders in curbing costly hospital readmissions and maximizing […]

Home Health Referral Rejection Rate Continues To Climb

This past winter didn’t have the COVID-19 surge that the previous one did. And yet, the referral rejection rate reached an all-time high in home health care – all the way up to 76%. All the while, patients being referred to home health have a higher acuity level on average. Nursing home referrals are also […]

Voices: Tim Ashe, Chief Clinical Officer, WellSky

This article is sponsored by WellSky. In this Voices Interview, Home Health Care News sits down with Tim Ashe, Chief Clinical Officer, WellSky, to learn about patient engagement and the role it plays in better health outcomes and whole-person care. He explains why it is important to have patients and families play an active role […]

How Evolving Joint Employment Laws Could Impact Home-Based Care

Home-based care providers in 2023 should stay on top of regulatory and compliance changes to federal joint employment laws. In the eyes of the Fair Labor Standards Act and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), “joint employment” means working for two or more companies, one that is responsible for their W2s and compensation and a […]

Whether Decreased Home Health Utilization Is Helping Or Hurting The Health System

Following the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) implementation of the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM), the total number of home health visits per 30-day period fell by nearly 17%. That’s according to CMS data. Some health care organizations, like AARP, are concerned that this trend may be the result of unintended consequences tied […]

The Transition of Care to the Home: Technology’s Pivotal Role

This article is sponsored by WellSky®. This article is based on a Home Health Care News discussion with Hannah Luetke-Stahlman, Vice President of Solutions Management at WellSky, and Sheila Davis, Senior Vice President of Area Operations at Always Best Care. The discussion took place on November 16, 2022, during the HHCN Home Care Conference in […]

How Home Health Agencies Could Trim Costs Ahead Of Medicare Rate Cuts

It’s easy to understand why many home health agencies today are focused on fighting and advocating against a significant cut to reimbursement rates. Regardless of those efforts, the possibility exists that a final rule — which may come any day now — will still include some type of cut that will be financially and operationally […]