With Medicaid Access Rule Finalized, Home Care Providers Enter ‘Wait-And-See’ Mode

On Tuesday, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) officials vehemently backed the thought process behind the “80-20” wage mandate in home- and community-based services (HCBS). Providers and advocates, on the other hand, continued to argue that the policy could be disastrous. During a press call Tuesday, CMS stuck with the theme that, in general, […]

Home Care Industry Slams Finalized 80-20 Rule, Warns Agency Closures Are Coming

The “Ensuring Access to Medicaid Services” rule has been finalized. Most importantly, the bemoaned “80-20” provision has gone through as proposed, meaning providers will eventually be forced to direct 80% of reimbursement for home- and community-based services (HCBS) to caregiver wages.  First proposed by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in April […]

Amedisys Stock Buyback Highlights Record Prices in Home Health M&A

Amedisys, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMED) doubled down on its own home health, hospice and personal care business Monday, deploying nearly all of its cash on hand to buy back $178 million worth of stock from global investment firm KKR (NYSE: KKR). The transaction signals leadership’s continued confidence in the Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based company’s growth prospects, but […]

Addus CEO on Why Chick-fil-A Matters to In-Home Care Providers

Hiring caregivers remains the No. 1 challenge for in-home care providers, industry executives say. It’s only getting tougher, too, as low-skilled workers outside the industry are being offered progressively higher wages—particularly within retail and fast food. Retail giant Target in March announced it was raising its minimum starting pay for workers for the second time in less […]

Cigna Urges Court to Drop Home Care False Claims Suit

Cigna Corp. has urged an Illinois federal court to drop a ‘flawed’ home care false claims suit, which accuses Addus HomeCare Corp. (NASDAQ: ADUS) and a Cigna subsidiary of bilking the government of millions of dollars by providing Medicare- and Medicaid-covered services to people who didn’t need them. A complaint filed by Stop Illinois Marketing […]

Addus HomeCare Acquires Aid & Assist at Home

Addus HomeCare Corporation (NASDAQ: ADUS) announced Tuesday it has acquired Tennessee-based Cura Partners, LLC (D/B/A Aid & Assist at Home, LLC), a deal that is expected to add $12 million to $13 million to Addus’ revenue this year.  Addus HomeCare provides comprehensive health care services including skilled nursing, personal care aides and rehabilitation, and provides services […]

Addus, Aetna Team Up to Study Smart Phone Benefits for Home Care Aides

Addus Home Care has teamed up with Aetna Better Health of Illinois, an Aetna Medicaid plan, to conduct a pilot study on the impact of providing smart phones to home care aides serving Illinois residents participating in the state’s Integrated Care Program. The care program provides assistance with meal preparation, bathing, housekeeping, and transportation, among […]