In case you missed it, here are the top headlines grabbing readers’ attention this week, plus some other notable stories from around the web that caught our eye here at HHCN:
Home Health Providers Nabbed in Historic, $712 Million Fraud Takedown — In an action that’s been deemed the “largest criminal health care fraud takedown” in the Department of Justice’s history, 243 individuals — including home health care providers — have been charged for their participation in schemes involving approximately $712 million in false billings.
Home Care Workers Win $15 Minimum Wage in Massachusetts — Home care workers have scored a major victory in a national fight to raise their pay, as Massachusetts has become the first state to enact a $15 per hour minimum starting wage. The announcement came Thursday, following months of negotiations between the union representing home care workers and the administration of recently elected Gov. Charlie Baker (R).
Angie’s List Emerging as Home Care Review Hotspot — Home health care is one of the fastest-growing categories on Angie’s List, a company representative recently told The Columbus Dispatch. And Ohio, in particular, could emerge as a leading market for home care reviews, given that one parent in a Columbus suburb is urging area families to post reviews on the website.
NAHC: Supreme Court Ruling Prevents ‘Wholesale Chaos’ in Health Care
Val J. Halamandaris, president and CEO of the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC), released a statement Thursday in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling in King v. Burwell, which upheld subsidies under the Affordable Care Act for individuals who acquire health insurance through a federal exchange.
“Today’s ruling is the best possible result we could have reasonably expected,” Halamandaris wrote in the statement. “Any other result would have led to wholesale chaos for the health care system with people across the country being denied their benefits. The Court’s ruling essentially amounts to a ceasefire in the repeal effort.”
Stat of the Week
Genworth Estimates Home Care to Cost $45,000 Annually — The average cost for homemaker services in the U.S. is $44,616 per year, while home health aide services tick up to $45,760 annually, according to the Genworth 2015 Cost of Care Survey. North Dakota has the highest price tag in both categories at $59,854 and $62,142, respectively.
Written by Emily Study
Companies featured in this article:
Angie's List, Department of Justice, Genworth, NAHC, The Columbus Dispatch
